Tropical Storm Rita is now with us.

[NNadir]

It seems to be moving into the Gulf and heading towards Texas.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. How's the levee situation in Crawford? If it can keep shit in, it can

keep water out.

[celestia671]

4. I bet..

that if it were to hit Crawford, the Nat'l Guard, Fema, and the Red Cross would be there in no time!

[whistle]

2. Could hit hurricane velocity in five days....

<snip>
WTNT23 KNHC 182055
TCMAT3
TROPICAL STORM RITA FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 4
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL182005
2100Z SUN SEP 18 2005

AT 5 PM EDT...2100Z...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA FROM DEERFIELD BEACH
SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY AND CONTINUING WESTWARD TO EAST CAPE
SABLE.

AT 5 PM EDT... THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH
FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...MATANZAS...CIUDAD DE HABANA...LA
HABANA...AND PINAR DEL RIO...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE
PROVINCES OF CIEGO DE AVILA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...AND CIENFUEGOS.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
OCEAN REEF SOUTHWARD AND WESTWARD TO DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING
FLORIDA BAY.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM
WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 22.2N 72.7W AT 18/2100Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 30 NM

PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE WEST OR 280 DEGREES AT 9 KT

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1006 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 35 KT WITH GUSTS TO 45 KT.
34 KT....... 60NE 0SE 0SW 60NW.
12 FT SEAS.. 60NE 0SE 0SW 60NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.

REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 22.2N 72.7W AT 18/2100Z
AT 18/1800Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 21.9N 72.4W

FORECAST VALID 19/0600Z 22.6N 74.7W
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT... 60NE 40SE 30SW 60NW.

FORECAST VALID 19/1800Z 23.2N 77.3W
MAX WIND 50 KT...GUSTS 60 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 25SE 25SW 50NW.
34 KT... 75NE 60SE 40SW 75NW.

FORECAST VALID 20/0600Z 23.5N 79.7W
MAX WIND 60 KT...GUSTS 75 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 25SE 25SW 50NW.
34 KT... 90NE 75SE 60SW 90NW.

FORECAST VALID 20/1800Z 23.5N 82.5W
MAX WIND 70 KT...GUSTS 85 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 25SE 25SW 50NW.
34 KT...100NE 75SE 75SW 100NW.

FORECAST VALID 21/1800Z 23.5N 87.5W
MAX WIND 75 KT...GUSTS 90 KT.
50 KT... 60NE 40SE 40SW 60NW.
34 KT...100NE 75SE 75SW 100NW.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 250 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 325 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY

OUTLOOK VALID 22/1800Z 24.0N 91.5W
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.

OUTLOOK VALID 23/1800Z 25.5N 95.0W
MAX WIND 95 KT...GUSTS 115 KT.

REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 22.2N 72.7W

NEXT ADVISORY AT 19/0300Z

FORECASTER KNABB

<link> http://hurricane.terrapin.com/ATL-18A/

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I fear we will ahve Hurricane Alpha for the first time ever

before this is over.. but no global warming, no siree...

[Renew Deal]

5. Those green lines would be disaster again.

Lets hope not.

[Strelnikov_]

6. Looks Like Houston And The Rest Of The Undamaged GOM Energy

infrastructure.

Split the middle between the above models, and those following, and it looks like Houston.

It's almost like mother nature is trying to send a message.

[Boomer]

7. Fill up yer gas tanks now

'Cause prices will be going up this week and next.