5PM EDT Update
Rita is now a Category 5 hurricane with surface winds of 165-170mph and a sea level pressure of 906mb. This makes it one of the most intense hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin, just shy of where Katrina was 3 weeks ago. Microwave imagery suggest that an eyewall cycle might be 12-18hr away, leaving it plenty of time to unfortunately strengthen further. More soon.

3PM EDT Update
Hurricane Rita is nearing category 5 intensity with a pressure just below 920mb and maximum sustained winds at 150mph. Recon recently reported a max wind of 173kt at 139m above the surface.

7:40 AM EDT Update
Hurricane Rita has now hit category 4 threshold with 135 MPH winds, and a pressure of 948 mb.

Image courtesy SkeetobiteWeather.com
Comments/Feedback on the maps look here.

7:00 AM EDT Update
Major Hurricane Rita is now well into the Gulf of Mexico still moving quickly along at 14MPH toward the west, the current model consensus still suggests the middle Texas coast, with the most likely location between Corpus Christi and Galveston. The cone of uncertainty ranges from Northern Mexico to Western Lousiana.

Rita is still set for intensifying right now, and it is forecast to reach Category 4 strength today. There is a possibility that Rita will breifly obtain Category 5 status as well. Some evacutions are already underway in the Galveston area, but no warning or watches are up for the Gulf coast as of yet.

More to come later today.

2:00 AM EDT Update
NHC has updated Hurricane Rita to Major Hurricane status.
Rita is expected to attain Category 4 status later today.

10:44 PM EDT Update
Hurricane Rita is down to 965MB in pressure, around 110MPH maximum sustained winds. The track so far is good heading generally westward then a slight northerly movement into perhaps the central to northern Texas coasts.

It is likely that Rita will strengthen further tonight into a category 3 system. The forecast calls for a category 4 storm later in the week as it moves toward the central Gulf. The door is open for Rita to possibly reach category 5 status, but shear expected toward the end would hopefully prevent that strong a storm from making landfall.

The forecast track itself hasn't changed all that much yet.

Gulf coast residents from Northern Mexico to Louisiana will need to watch Rita closely.

More available from Ed Dunham in the met blogs below, as well as in Clark Evans' blog from late Monday below Ed's latest.

Event-Related Links
Florida Keys Long Range Radar Loop
Houston/Galveston, TX Long Range Radar
Corpus Christi, TX Long Range Radar
Brownsville, TX Long Range Radar
Lake Charles, LA Long Range Radar
New Orelans, LA Long Range Radar

Spaghetti Style model plots from Colorado State University

Forecast Discussions for (Show All Locations):
Corpus Christi, TX, Houston/Galveston, Lake Charles, LA
New Orleans, LA
Brownsville, TX

CFHC Long term Key West Radar Recording of Rita
Level 3 High Res Radar recording of Rita passing south of the Keys
CFHC Long term Bahamas Radar Recording of Rita

StormCarib hurricane reports from observers in the Islands
Caribbean Island Weather Reports
Color Sat of Gulf
RAMSDIS high speed visible Floater of Storms

Emergency Management/County info
Monroe County Emergency Management (Florida Keys)
Broward County Emergency Management
Palm Beach County emergency managment
Miami-Dade County Emergency Management
State of Florida Division of Emergency Management/floridadisaster.org

Video/Audio

Local Media/Television
KHOU the CBS affiliate in houston, is former Hurricane Center director Neil Frank's station, and likely will begin streaming once warnings are up in the area
Channel 2 NBC affiliate in Houston
ABC 13 in Houston

Radio
KTRH Rado News/Talk station in Houston with streaming
Other Houston area radio

Web based Video and Audio
Jim Williams, from Hurricane City and West Palm Beach, is doing his live audio show as Rita approaches on hurricanecity. Listen here

Marc Sudduth over at hurricanetrack.com is on his way toward Texas. see some of his live streaming video and audio here

Hurricanenow - Former CNN hurricane Reporter Jeff Flock reports n the storm with video updates and live streaming
Weathervine.com storm chasers/video/audio
radioNHCWX not affiliated with the real NHC

Reply and let us know of other links.

Rita

Animated model plots of Rita

Google Map plot of Rita

Floater satellite loops (With forecast track overlay):
Rita Floater Visible Satellite Loop
Rita Floater Infrared Satellite Loop
Rita Floater Shortwave Infrared Satellite Loop
Rita Dvorak Loop
Rita Water Vapor Loop

Philippe

Animated model plots of Philippe