OT:Rita

Personally, I have 7 people on the way from south of Houston. My brother lives in League City, just north of Galveston. His wife and four children are headed this way. He has chosen to stay with the house. Also arriving, two very close friends...maybe more. We are expecting some wind and alot of rain, but we are about 180 miles from the coast of Corpus Christi....Just hope it moves through quiickly. I haven't heard the speed at which it is traveling...

Julie in Hondo

Now the estimate is winds of 155 mph within 12 hours. This could be adjusted upward soon since the Hurricane Hunters have had electrical problems with aircraft so haven't been able to do reconnaissance this morning. Landfall of at least Cat 3 is expected. Watch out down there!

And I have just heard from Lollee that she and the cats are going to stay with a friend further inland.

Oh, I'm pretty sure! :) I wasn't kidding about the 2000 miles, since the U.S. is nearly 4000 miles wide! That's not to say we don't get storms here in the Great Plains, but it certainly won't be a hurricane and tornadoes are rare this far north. We did have 100mph straight-line winds for a couple hours a few years ago on DD's birthday but that's the first time in my 51 years I've ever seen anything like that. Yeah, I think I'm safe from hurricanes! :)

Joan

LOL! Well, okay, you've got me there, Dawne! I think I'd still rather have a blizzard....they, at least, don't blow houses apart!

Joan

"Lucille" wrote

You`re not kidding! My grandson is, at this very minute, on a plane heading back to Basra, after a couple of weeks leave. It`s his birthday today, poor Dan! He has another five weeks out there before they come home, so I`m keeping my fingers crossed for him. Up to now he`s had a fairly peaceful time, but it`s boiled over a bit since he came home.

He`s gone SO blonde out there - nearly white. Just like he was as a baby.

Pat P

The latest update (2:15 pm EDT) has winds of 150 mph and central pressure of 920 mb and still dropping. At this time yesterday the pressure was 978 mb so she is really picking up steam FAST.

On the other side of the US, Hurricane Jova is also a sizable beast with winds almost up to 140 mph and pressure down to 960 mb. I believe it is currently on track to swing north of Hawaii but don't know if that track is likely to change. I don't see any watches or warnings for Hawaii at this time anyway.

Is Jim McNamara still in Houston?

Pat P

As of right this minute (1:15 pm PDT), she's a Cat5.

Wow! My sons birthday is today aswell, as is my aunts. I guess Christmas/Newyears really is the season to be jolly ;-)

cu nicole

A reporter on CNN says that over the next few days they expect the eye wall of Rita to replenish itself; in the process it may decrease to Cat 4, and then increase to Cat 5. It may do this several times before landfall.They guess it will be the luck of the draw whether it comes ashore as a Cat 4 as Katrina did, or will be a Cat 5 at that time.

-- Jim Cripwell. A volante tribe of bards on earth are found,/ who, while the flattering zephyrs round them play,/ on "coignes of vantage" build their nests of clay;/ how quickly from that aery hold unbound,/ dust for oblivion!/ To the solid ground/ of nature trusts the mind that builds for aye. Wordsworth.

Thanks, Mirjam. At least the temperature has started to drop a little out there - let`s hope that the rest of it cools down a bit, too.

Pat P

they go to greek alphaet; alpha, beta,gama,delta etc.

rita lowy

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matt. 5:5-9) =A0 Inspired

i think we should all be worried right now...

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matt. 5:5-9) =A0 Inspired

Mazal tov Congratulations Mrs PP , to your Grandson , and may he have an Easy time in Basra , Be safe there and come back safe. mirjam

She is currently over a "loop" of very warm water. The water closer to the coast is cooler which could cause a decrease in addition to that which is due to eyewall replacement. The latest dropsonde failed to record the pressure at the surface. It did indicate a pressure below

Ok, now I'm jealous ;-)

I have a good friend in Tasmania, his parents house is up on a hill and you can see right down into the bay (Hobart) and watch the boats. So beautiful. I really miss being clost to some kind of water, I lived in Constance for a few years and walked along the lake nearly every day.

So, enjoy your view!

cu nicole