Hurricane Rita now the 3rd strongest hurricane ever.

[RONSTOO]

Hurricane Gilbert (888 mb, 1988)

The Great Labor Day Hurricane (892 mb, 1935)

Hurricane Allen (899 mb, 1980)

Hurricane Katrina (902 mb, 2005)

Hurricane Rita (904 mb, 2005)

Hurricane Camille (905 mb, 1969)




The latest info has it at 898 mb.

[punpirate]

1. The 6:50 CDT update reported...

... that it showed signs of strengthening over the next twelve hours, as well. Later reports said it could weaken a little over the next 24 hours, so it's hard to say what it will be like tomorrow.

Gonna be a pisser, though--of that there is no doubt.

[ixion]

3. I am curious as to what will cause it to weaken... there's nothing

but warm water between Rita and the Gulf Coast.

:shrug:

[punpirate]

5. It's all warm water, but warmer in some places...

... than in others. It may do much like Katrina did as it approached the shoreline--dropping from a moderate 5 to a strong 4.

When Katrina was going through 90 deg. F water, it was a 5, but the water surface temps drop off just a bit nearer to the coastline.

Cheers.

[Zynx]

6. It's difficult for it to stay at max strength constantly

[Dirty Hippie]

2. Read more here

http://www.weatherunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

[Quetzal]

4. NOAA now saying it is below 899 mb

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT3+shtml/212351.shtml

Get OUT!!!

[RONSTOO]

7. 896 and dropping....

Im in awe.