Rita heads for Texas by Jay Wynne
Hurricane Rita has now been upgraded to a category five storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale – making it one of the most powerful storms that form. After the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina, all eyes are firmly fixed on Rita as she works her way across the Gulf of Mexico, continuing to quench her thirst by drawing up energy from the warm waters.
Rita started off as a tropical storm to the north of the Dominican Republic, where she brought more in the way of rain than wind, with three to five inches falling on the Turks & Caicos Islands. But as she moved towards the Florida Keys, winds increased in strength and she gained status becoming a category one hurricane.
Brushing past the Florida Keys, Rita brought heavy rain and winds in excess of 70mph (112km/h) to some places. However, with the strongest of the winds remaining off shore, damage was relatively minor. Some coastal districts were affected by storm-surge related flooding caused by the swollen seas, and 24,000 homes were left without electricity.
With Rita now moving across the Gulf of Mexico, drawing up energy from the warm waters, she continues to strengthen. Now of category five strength, Rita has sustained winds of 175mph (280km/h), and gusts of up to 210mph (330 km/h). It is believed that she is the one of the most intense hurricanes that has ever been recorded.
Rita is forecast to make landfall in the state of Texas late on Friday. Already, the president of the United States has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the hurricane’s arrival. Residents have been ordered to leave the cities of Galveston, along with parts of Houston and Corpus Christi.
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