Hurricane Rita Intermediate Advisory Number 26a

midnight CDT Sat Sep 24 2005

...Eye of major Hurricane Rita wobbling toward landfall near the
Louisiana/Texas 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 midnight CDT...0500z...the center of Hurricane Rita was located
near latitude 29.2 north... longitude 93.5 west or about 40 miles
south-southeast of Sabine Pass along the Gulf Coast at the
Texas/Louisiana border.

Rita is moving toward the northwest near 11 mph. This general
motion is expected to continue until landfall. A gradual
turn toward the north-northwest is expected on Saturday.