Major Consolidation going on

[Chigger_Lopez]

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... -loop.html

Check out how Rita gets much bigger while she sucks in all of the moisture around her core. I have no idea how that happens or why, but it is pretty obvious that she is growing in overall size bigtime. The fist is going to be flying tonight!

[TampaFl]

[canegrl04]

CRAP Shes going to become a monster in the GOM

[PTrackerLA]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1045 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2005

.DISCUSSION...
FOR THE SHORT TERM...NO CHANGES MADE TO FORECAST. MADE TWEAKS IN
THE EXTENDED USING THE LATEST TRACK FORECAST FOR RITA...WITH IS
STILL EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE UPPER TX COAST SAT MORNING.
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT RITA WILL MOVE WEST-NORTHWEST ACROSS THE
CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF THIS WEEK. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IS LOWER
ON THE TIMING OF NORTHWEST RECURVATURE OF RITA...SO RESIDENTS
ANYWHERE ALONG THE ENTIRE TX AND LA COAST COULD BE UNDER THE GUN
BY WEEKS END. ALSO...RITA COULD BE A LARGER THAN NORMAL HURRICANE
(AREAL COVERAGE) BY LANDFALL...SO DON`T FOCUS ON THE PINPOINT
TRACK...BUT RATHER THE ZONE WHERE THE HURRICANE WATCH/WARNINGS
WILL EVENTUALLY BE PLACED.

[gatorcane]

In the infrared you notice the deep reds (colder cloud tops) forming even in the feeder bands that are 100-200 miles from the center.

[THead]

In the infrared you notice the deep reds (colder cloud tops) forming even in the feeder bands that are 100-200 miles from the center.

Yeah, while broward and WPB are going to be spared a disaster, its going to be an ugly day tomorrow. I think Rita is more classic than Katrina in the sense that her north side is going to be alot stronger than Katrina's was. Remember how the south side of Katrina seemed to do the most damage on the Fla landfall.

[InimanaChoogamaga]

<<ALSO...RITA COULD BE A LARGER THAN NORMAL HURRICANE
(AREAL COVERAGE) BY LANDFALL>>

Does that mean a Katrina sized popeye-eats-his-spinach storm?

[Dmetal81]

I think a hurricanes size is regulate by the upper atmospheric environment. Im not positive and would love someone with the know-how to explain how a hurricane gets their size! From tiny tiny Andrew to big ones like Katrina and Floyd... what make/limits the size of their windfield besides obvious development factors?

[bayoubebe]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1045 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2005

.DISCUSSION...
FOR THE SHORT TERM...NO CHANGES MADE TO FORECAST. MADE TWEAKS IN
THE EXTENDED USING THE LATEST TRACK FORECAST FOR RITA...WITH IS
STILL EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE UPPER TX COAST SAT MORNING.
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT RITA WILL MOVE WEST-NORTHWEST ACROSS THE
CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF THIS WEEK. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IS LOWER
ON THE TIMING OF NORTHWEST RECURVATURE OF RITA...SO RESIDENTS
ANYWHERE ALONG THE ENTIRE TX AND LA COAST COULD BE UNDER THE GUN
BY WEEKS END. ALSO...RITA COULD BE A LARGER THAN NORMAL HURRICANE
(AREAL COVERAGE) BY LANDFALL...SO DON`T FOCUS ON THE PINPOINT
TRACK...BUT RATHER THE ZONE WHERE THE HURRICANE WATCH/WARNINGS
WILL EVENTUALLY BE PLACED.

EEEEk!!

[THead]

I think a hurricanes size is regulate by the upper atmospheric environment. Im not positive and would love someone with the know-how to explain how a hurricane gets their size! From tiny tiny Andrew to big ones like Katrina and Floyd... what make/limits the size of their windfield besides obvious development factors?

Check out this thread, might give you some info on this.

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=74462

[gpickett00]

I'm pretty sure a few of us (mainly Jim Hughes) know exactly why it is intensifying all of the sudden.

[Praxus]

Wow nice outflow to the south in the last frame.

[Dmetal81]

You can clearly see the distinct banding in the NE and SW quadrants. When that covers the center, we should see an eye form, perhaps visible as early as tomorrow mornings Vis Sat pics come out.

Yes, it looks especially good in the south, but basically great all around.Im getting concerned about her size, move her due west right now and she'd still scrape southern florida quite badly. I think whatever was unfavorable in the environment has been switched off

Im noticing on WV that shes pulling a moisture tail in from both the gulf and atlantic now.. plenty of feeding for a hungry monster... a growing one...

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconuswv.html

[kevin]

I'm pretty sure a few of us (mainly Jim Hughes) know exactly why it is intensifying all of the sudden.

Right because everyone else thought it would stay a tropical storm.