Eyewall Replacement Cycle. It's when the eye closes and opens again. Usually there is a burst of strength when the eye is opening back up coupled with a "flattening" of the wind filed. I see no indication of an ERC in this storm yet, and it may already be annular (no ERC).
A question, for anyone in Austin or who knows about what this storm may bring.
My sister is flying down from New Jersey tomorrow to attend the City Limits (?) Music Festival in Austin on Saturday. It's an outdoor festival. She has a hotel and isn't scheduled to fly back to New Jersey until Monday.
What could a hurricane do to Austin, which is 200 miles inland? Is it scheduled to pour rain on the city? That, at least, would shut the festival down and take away the only reason to go.
On the other hand, I could see the festival waiting until the last minute to cancel so ticketholders don't get pissed.
If it were me, I'd cancel, but it's her, and she's already spent the money. If being in Austin for Rita is the equivalent of being in, I don't know, Little Rock or Memphis for Katrina, is their cause for panic?