Here We Go Again? Gulf Entry Expected!

Tropical Storm Strengthens Over Bahamas, Heads for Florida Keys
Sept. 19 (Bloomberg.com)

Tropical Storm Rita gained strength over the Bahamas as it headed toward southern Florida, with forecasters warning it may become a hurricane within a day.

Rita's maximum sustained winds strengthened to 60 miles (97 kilometers) per hour as of 5 a.m. Miami time, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an online advisory. The center of the season's 17th named storm was about 250 miles southeast of Nassau, the Bahamas, and Rita was heading west at 9 mph.

Rita's maximum sustained winds have strengthened by 10 mph in three hours. "Additional strengthening is expected, and Rita could become a hurricane during the next 24 hours,'' the hurricane center said.

Rita's course would see the storm sweep just south of the Florida Keys between 2 a.m. tomorrow and 2 a.m. Sept. 21, before heading into the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texan coast by Sept. 24, according to the center's 5-day ``probability cone.'' Such a path would see Rita threaten Texan oil facilities, including the refineries of Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

Batten down the hatches Gulf Coast it's gonna be a bumpy week. I would suggest that everyone on the Gulf Coast take a lesson from Katrina and stock up now on supplies. Water, at least a gallon/day/person, food (remember no electricity, no powered can opener), and don't for get the pets' needs.

full Story: New Gulf Hurricane

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