Hurricane Rita Advisory Number 26

Statement as of 10:00 PM CDT on September 23, 2005

...Eye of major Hurricane Rita just a few hours from landfall near
the Texas/Louisiana border...
...Strong winds and heavy rains battering southern Louisiana and
southeastern Texas...
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Sargent Texas to Morgan
City Louisiana. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane
conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24
hours. Preparations to protect life and property should have
already been completed.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the southeastern
coast of Louisiana east of Morgan City to the mouth of the Pearl
River... including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake
Pontchartrain... and from south of Sargent Texas to Port Aransas
Texas. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm
conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24
hours.

For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 10 PM CDT...0300z...the center of Hurricane Rita was located near
latitude 29.1 north... longitude 93.2 west or about 55 miles... 90
km... southeast of Sabine Pass along the Gulf Coast at the
Texas/Louisiana border.

Rita is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph... 19 km/hr. This
general motion is expected to continue until landfall. A gradual
turn toward the north-northwest is expected on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph...195 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Rita is a dangerous category three hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson scale. Little change in strength is expected prior
to landfall. Gradual weakening is expected after Rita moves
inland.