E-Mail Question

I'm still fairly new at blogging, but I received a request for an updated radar image. You can see that at this link http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/images/DS.p19r0/SI.klch/latest.gif And you should see the same image above. This image is courtesy of The National Weather Service.

Here is a question I received via e-mail a few minutes ago:

What is the likelyhood that Rita will change direction once the wall strenghtens and move further west toward Galveston?

As of right now, I am currently looking at updated model imagery coming in tonight, and this is a distinct possibilty. I spoke earlier on-air that it appeared that another eyewall replacement cycle was taking shape and it appears that indeed is occurring.

With that, most times there is some sort of jog or wobble in another direction when the outter wall finally takes over and replaces the inner wall. The question remains, which direction will the jog or wobble go? For that, only time will tell... If that jog moves west, Galveston once again could take a close to direct hit. But, with the movement of the storm thus far, Sabine Pass and Port Arthur-Beaumont will feel the worst of the storm surge even with that jog or wobble.

The next update from the National Hurricane Center is expected sometime within the next half an hour.

The follow statement was released by the city of Abilene this afternoon. There's good information here if anyone knows someone displaced and needs a place to go.


ABILENE, Texas – The latest information provided to the City of Abilene Emergency Management office is that approximately least 400 Hurricane Rita evacuees left the Lufkin, Texas, area in buses sometime between about 12:30 p.m. today, Sept. 23, en route to Abilene.

The City of Abilene/Red Cross mass care shelter that was opened yesterday at the G.V. Daniels Recreation Center, 541 North 8th Street (corner of North 8th and Treadaway), will be used to receive these evacuees, along with an additional shelter that has now been set up at the Sears Park Recreation Center, 2250 Ambler. All Rita evacuees needing shelter are asked to initially report to the G.V. Daniels Center to register for assistance or to telephone 2-1-1 Texas A Call for Help.