Quickie recap for those just tuning back in - As of 10 am CDT -
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Port O'Connor, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana
- Tropical Storm Warnings extend from Morgan City east to the Louisiana/Mississippi state line (includes New Orleans) and from Port O'Connor to Port Aransas, Texas.
- A Tornado Watch is in effect from coastal Alabama west through south-central Louisiana through 6 pm CDT
- Rita was centered near 27.4 north/91.9 west, about 220 miles southeast of Galveston and 210 miles southeast of Port Arthur.
- Movement was toward the northwest near 10 mph and is expected to continue the next 24 hours. Landfall is anticipated early Saturday on the upper Texas/southwest Louisiana coastline.
- Maximum sustained winds were near 135 mph (the border between a Category 4 and Category 3), and while slight weakening is possible, Rita will likely come ashore as a major hurricane. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 85 miles and tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 205 miles. Pressure was 929 mb.
| Wind Direction (WDIR): | N ( 360 deg true ) |
| Wind Speed (WSPD): | 27.2 kts |
| Wind Gust (GST): | 33.0 kts |
| Wave Height (WVHT): | 16.7 ft |
| Dominant Wave Period (DPD): | 14 sec |
| Average Period (APD): | 8.1 sec |
| Mean Wave Direction (MWDIR): | E ( 101 deg true ) |
| Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): | 29.59 in |
| Pressure Tendency (PTDY): | -0.02 in ( Falling ) |
| Air Temperature (ATMP): | 82.9 °F |
| Water Temperature (WTMP): | 85.5 °F |
| Dew Point (DEWP): | 73.9 °F |
| Heat Index (HEAT): | 89.4 °F |
| Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure | |
| TIME(CDT) | WDIR | WSPD |
|---|---|---|
| 11:50 am | N ( 356 deg ) | 26.6 kts |
| 11:40 am | N ( 358 deg ) | 26.2 kts |
| 11:30 am | N ( 355 deg ) | 26.8 kts |
| 11:20 am | N ( 355 deg ) | 26.2 kts |
| 11:10 am | N ( 352 deg ) | 26.8 kts |
| 11:00 am | N ( 350 deg ) | 26.0 kts |
| Wind Direction (WDIR): | N ( 10 deg true ) |
| Wind Speed (WSPD): | 29.1 kts |
| Wind Gust (GST): | 38.9 kts |
| Wave Height (WVHT): | 13.8 ft |
| Dominant Wave Period (DPD): | 17 sec |
| Average Period (APD): | 7.3 sec |
| Mean Wave Direction (MWDIR): | E ( 95 deg true ) |
| Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): | 29.60 in |
| Pressure Tendency (PTDY): | -0.04 in ( Falling ) |
| Air Temperature (ATMP): | 82.0 °F |
| Water Temperature (WTMP): | 85.5 °F |
| Dew Point (DEWP): | 74.3 °F |
| Heat Index (HEAT): | 88.3 °F |
| Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure | |