...RITA BECOMES THE FIFTH MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD...
DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AT 416 PM CDT...2116Z...INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO 904 MB...OR 26.69 INCHES. THIS MAKES RITA THE FIFTH MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN.
RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB...THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB...HURRICANE ALLEN IN 1980 WITH 899 MB...AND HURRICANE KATRINA LAST MONTH WITH 902 MB.
FORECASTER STEWART --------------------------------------------------------------- Old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times!"
-------------------- Who you gonna' believe?
Me, or your damn lying eyes?
_Ö_ _ö_