[Trust but Verify]

Well if you're being technical, nobody but God knows this, but the forecasters are all saying the conditions do not favor a Cat 4 or 5 storm.

[james_f_hall]

They said same about Katrina coming off Florida.

[thackney]

but the forecasters are all saying the conditions do not favor a Cat 4 or 5 storm.

Forecasts put equal chances of being a Cat 4 or 5 in three days equal to being a Cat 1.

Wind Speed Forecast for RITA

[El Gato]

Well if you're being technical, nobody but God knows this, but the forecasters are all saying the conditions do not favor a Cat 4 or 5 storm.

Not accuweather, they are saying Cat 4, maybe low Cat 5 when it hits the Texas coast. That would be stronger than Katrina was by the time it got to New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulf Port, etc.