Rita (by HanKFranK) Hurricane Rita made landfall early on this date in 2004 just east of the TX/LA line. The storm had peaked as a Category 5 in the central Gulf early on September 22, with winds at 175MPH and a minimum pressure at 897Mb--currently the fourth lowest known in an Atlantic Hurricane.
Rita had spun down to a 120MPH category 3 at landfall, but still carried a large surge inland over the low bayou country of Cameron parish, inundating the small communities there... and also caused lesser flooding but widespread wind damage from Lake Charles over to the Beaumont/Orange/Port Arthur area. A significant number of inland tornadoes (about 80) also occurred primarily over MS/AL as Rita approached and came ashore.
Rita caused about 9.4 billion in US damage, and directly killed 6 (although a significantly larger number died indirectly in the storm).
