4:00 p.m. NHC Advisory

Chief Meteorologist Craig Carnesi here taking a break from college football to update you on Tropical Storm Rita. (After all, it technically is my day off!)

Rita continues to weaken but still continues to bring gusty winds to the Big Country. There is no question now that the KRBC-9 viewing area will remain dry. We have received a little benefit from Rita. Because of the size of Rita and the tight pressure gradient surround the low pressure center, we are feeling winds out of the North running from 10-20 miles per hour, and gusting up to 30 mph. Drier air is also continuing to filter in keeping relative humidity values running anywhere from 19% to 40%. This drier air combined with clear skies should allow temperatures to drop off nicely after sunset tonight.

AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 32.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 94.0 WEST OR ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA.

RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 12 MPH. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHEAST AND EAST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION DURING THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES TO THESOUTH OF THE CENTER.ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES.

THE COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING SHOULD CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE TODAY. HOWEVER... TIDES ALONG THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COASTS IN AREAS AFFECTED BY KATRINA COULD BE 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE WAVES... AND RESIDENTS THERE ARE EXPERIENCING COASTAL FLOODING. LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY RITA WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO AFFECT MOST PORTIONS OFTHE GULF COAST.

RITA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ALONG THE PATH OF THE STORM FROM NORTHEAST TEXAS NORTHWARD INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 15 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.