Hurricane Rita - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

On September 7, 2005, a tropical wave emerged off the west coast of Africa and entered the northern Atlantic Ocean. Failing to produce organized, deep convection, the system tracked west-northwestward towards the Lesser Antilles. By September 12, a cold front became stationary several hundred miles north of the Leeward Islands and gradually weakened. A surface trough later detached from the dissipating system and moved slowly westward, north of Puerto Rico. By September 17, the ill-defined tropical wave merged with the trough, triggering the development of concentrated shower and thunderstorm activity. Aided by a decrease in wind shear, the system continued to organize and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) estimated that it developed into a tropical depression around 0000 UTC on September 18. At this time, the depression was situated roughly 80 mi (130 km) east of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos.

Less than a day after forming, the depression became the 17th tropical storm of the season on September 18 and was named Rita. The tropical storm was slow to become a hurricane; National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports early on September 20 estimated the storm's sustained surface winds at hurricane force (75 mph, 120 km/h). However, Rita lacked a complete eyewall, and as such Rita remained classified as a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds during the latter hours of September 20. Aircraft observations released at 9:45 a.m. EDT showed a closed eyewall and winds clearly at hurricane strength. Four hours later, the NHC reported that Rita had reached Category 2 hurricane strength, with 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum sustained winds.

Warm sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 °F (0.5 °C) above average, favored storm intensification. As Rita entered the Gulf of Mexico, rapid intensification began. NHC advisories issued every three hours each showed strengthening from 5 p.m. EDT on September 20 to 11 a.m. EDT on September 21, as Rita's maximum sustained winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h). Rita continued to gain strength unabated. An update at 2:15 p.m. CDT (1815 UTC) stated maximum winds had increased to 150 mph (240 km/h) and Rita's minimum pressure was 920 mbar (hPa). Less than two hours later, at 3:55 p.m. CDT, another update reported that Rita had strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum wind speeds of 165 mph (265 km/h). At 6:50 p.m. CDT, a reconnaissance aircraft recorded pressure of 899 mbar (hPa) away from the storm's center; the actual central pressure was thought to be lower still. At 10 p.m. CDT, Rita reached its maximum intensity, with sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and an estimated minimum pressure of 895 mbar (hPa), (26.43 in Hg).

Lt. Col. Warren Madden, a Hurricane Hunter and meteorologist for The Weather Channel, recorded a peak wind gust of 235 mph (380 km/h) while flying in the eye of the storm, and called Rita "the strongest storm that I've ever been in." Rita's intense winds destroyed or disabled several buoy-based weather stations.

Rita made landfall between Sabine Pass, Texas, and Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, at 02:38 CDT (07:38 UTC) on September 24, 2005 as a Category 3 Hurricane with winds at 120 mph (195 km/h). Rita lost both hurricane and tropical storm status the day of landfall. Rita's remnants — technically an extensive low pressure area — moved quickly out of the lower Mississippi Valley and were absorbed by a cold front. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center ceased monitoring Tropical Depression Rita early on September 26.