Latest Rita Update: 175mph 897mb

[Dr.Phool]

Just heard on the Weather Channel.

[Jacobin]

1. actually sorta good news

When they reach these speeds, they start to form a second concentric eyewall and start to collapse on themselves and slow down.

That's what happened to Gilbert in 1988, and it slowed a bit....still a bad storm but it hit a largely unpopulated area

[jim3775]

3. It's slowing right now. n/t

[benburch]

8. Its MOVEMENT is slowing... Wind speed is not.

Slow movement over hot water is BAD BAD BAD.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. my take, we are about to be treated to a major catastrophe

Two days before it does its bit.

[benburch]

18. And I concur.

Sans a miracle. And I don't believe in miracles.

[VTMechEngr]

24. GOD has made his judgement:

After seeing those awful "don't mess with texas" stickers for years on crappy pickups, he is going to officially MESS with texas.


:sarcasm: Just had to say it.

[marmar]

6. Gilbert did more than its fair share of damage in Jamaica...

:think:

[Zynx]

12. It also mainly lost strength by passing over land at one point.

See, it passed over the Yucatan and that's why it lost strength.

[Psephos]

10. Yes, but...

Then the storm can re-form the inner eyewall during a replacement cycle, and end up more energized than before.

Here's NOAA's take
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D8.html

Here's a less-technical, but excellent, description from USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/askjack/2003-11-15-eyewall-replacement_x.htm

I would not bet against Rita at this point.

Peace.

[Zynx]

11. Super Typhoon Tip became so powerful it collapsed on itself and

it became quite weak.

[marmar]

2. Good grief...

I don't think Katrina ever dropped below 900 mb. This is monstrous.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Katrina's lowest pressure was 902mb

[nradisic]

7. Katrina only dropped to 902 millibars

Rita....

Clinton got blown by Monika, it took two "monstrous" chicks, Katrina and Rita to blow Bush.

[merbex]

5. Oh My God

Please, people evacuate!

And consider taking extra passengers if you have room in your car

[TroubleMan]

9. Wow....Gilbert was 888mb, the lowest in the Western Hemisphere

Rita's not too far off.


The lowest ever recorded was Typhoon Tip, 870mb.

Tip would have covered almost half of the US:

[Zynx]

14. Good thing Pacific Typhoons don't come this way.

Tip was a beast.

[MojoXN]

16. Indeed.

And it was SO large that it wasn't able to sustain itself, IIR my meteorology classes correctly. Let's all hope that that'll be the case with this one. I doubt it, though. Last I heard, oceanic temperatures in the Gulf were averaging about 85+ Fahrenheit. Not Good.

MojoXN

[Scooter24]

15. my god

Tip was one hell of a storm :scared:

[MojoXN]

13. Expect the pressure to drop to 880 mb soon.

Along with a weakening as it makes landfall. No matter how you slice it, this is a MAJOR hurricane. I just hope that everyone is out of Houston. I don't want the Astrodome to become Superdome v. 2.0.

MojoXN

[txindy]

21. The Astrodome won't be used, not with that roof

But I know what you mean. I want them out, too, with no one left behind.

[kestrel91316]

23. I heard the Astrodome can only take a Cat 2.

[starroute]

19. Has anyone noticed the forecast runs it directly over Crawford?

And still as a category 1 hurricane when it does?

I guess somebody won't get much brush-cutting done this weekend.

[benburch]

20. He won't be there.

He'll be cowering in a bunker somewhere with a bottle of hooch.

[NJCher]

22. Serious!!?

Maybe this is bush's big opportunity to learn empathy.




Cher