Either I'm crazy, or am I the only one who is noticing that according to the NHC storm coordinates, Rita did not move West during the time between the 5PM and 8PM Advisories? Take a look at the Google map plot, it only drifted a little due north. This doesn't look like movement due west at 13 mph to me.

17 09/21 5:00 PM 24.4N 86.8W
17A 09/21 8:00 PM 24.5N 86.8W

I know that storm centers can jog and wobble, but am I missing something here?

If this northward movement component continues, some drastically different evacuation plans will have to be formulated. I think with a storm this intense, it starts to push other weather features out of the way instead of vice versa, and the normal tendancy of hurricane is to trend northward.