Doe's this look like a cat4 to you?

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Perfect eye setting up, with red ring of convection all the away around it. I would not be suprize to see this as 120 knot cat4 when I wake up tomarrow. This is going to be a beast...In should make a run at cat5...

Outflow is perfect with 200 millibar anticyclone forming over it. Remember Dennis got beat 2 weeks later by Emily. This year has been known to do that. If this year plays true to its colors expect this to beat Katrina in power/Strength/Pressure.

My option!

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... IR4/20.jpg

[Ixolib]

I distinctly remember Ivan looking exactly the same!!

[skysummit]

I ruled it out at first, but I'm now thinking at Cat 5 is becoming very likely. That would be UNBELIEVABLE if we get 2 Category 5 hurricanes in a row in the gulf.

[canegrl04]

I don't recall two cat 5s striking the US in the same season before.Must be some kind of record if it does happen with Rita

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

That is one good looking cat2...I believe when the recon gets into the storm. They will find the pressure below 960 millibars with 120 mph winds?

[soonertwister]

At 8AM EDT this morning Rita was a tropical storm. I can't believe what my eyes are seeing. I thought that Katrina set the benchmark for the impossible storm, now I'm not even confident that she won't be surpassed sometime tomorrow.

I don't want to wake up on Friday and spend good time crying my eyes out. I did that already on a Sunday when people were being told to evacuate from NOLA 21 hours before landfall.

I don't ever want to experience those feelings again. I'm spent, and I don't need Rita. Go away, die, just do not do this to us again.

[Deb321]

Perfect eye setting up, with red ring of convection all the away around it. I would not be suprize to see this as 120 knot cat4 when I wake up tomarrow. This is going to be a beast...In should make a run at cat5...

Outflow is perfect with 200 millibar anticyclone forming over it. Remember Dennis got beat 2 weeks later by Emily. This year has been known to do that. If this year plays true to its colors expect this to beat Katrina in power/Strength/Pressure.

My option!

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... IR4/20.jpg

That looks to be a monster in the making! Unbelievable.

[Brent]

I don't believe there's ever been 2 Cat 5's in a season in the Atlantic. PERIOD.

[mtm4319]

I don't believe there's ever been 2 Cat 5's in a season in the Atlantic. PERIOD.

1960 and 1961 both had two category 5s:

1960 Donna & Ethel
1961 Carla & Hattie

[fasterdisaster]

I don't believe there's ever been 2 Cat 5's in a season in the Atlantic. PERIOD.

1960 and 1961 both had two category 5s:

1960 Donna & Ethel
1961 Carla & Hattie

Yes that's right, but if Emily in post-analysis is considered a Category 5, which is fully possible, then it will be the first recorded season EVER with 3 Category 5s. And folks, it is not exactly impossible for a Category 5 to happen in October, ala Hurricane Mitch. Don't think I need to remind you about him.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Emilly peaked out for a few hours with 153 knots flight level. In which the nhc upgraded Katrina by. So yes she was a cat5.

[leonardo]

it's looking really good...don't get me wrong...it's definitely on the fast track to category 4 status I'd say

but to think this thing is gonna bottom out BELOW 902 is a little overdone, IMO...although, with the way it's been deepening tonight, I can realistically see a borderline 5 storm now with pressure in the 920s (given the conditions stay as good as they are now, which seems likely)

bottom line - this storm is gonna be a real beast for someone, unfortunately

[AussieMark]

Yes that's right, but if Emily in post-analysis is considered a Category 5, which is fully possible, then it will be the first recorded season EVER with 3 Category 5s. And folks, it is not exactly impossible for a Category 5 to happen in October, ala Hurricane Mitch. Don't think I need to remind you about him.

Also Hattie in 1961

Emilly peaked out for a few hours with 153 knots flight level. In which the nhc upgraded Katrina by. So yes she was a cat5.

Emily has quite high pressure tho for a category 5. Peaked at 929

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Pressure is not what they upgrade or down grade by. The winds are the deal.

[Dmetal81]

Pressure is not what they upgrade or down grade by. The winds are the deal.

Yes, but in post analysis they will take a look at damage, surge, and pressure readings to verify that their intensity was correct... for example, Andrew was upgraded to a Cat 5 10 years AFTER it hit S Fla.

[wxmann_91]

Emily has quite high pressure tho for a category 5. Peaked at 929

Remember that small storms like Emily have a tight pressure gradient, and thus the small storms don't need very much of a low pressure to have high winds.

[thunderchief]

thats no 2.

[senorpepr]

I don't recall two cat 5s striking the US in the same season before.Must be some kind of record if it does happen with Rita

I think you mean two systems that at one point were cat 5. There have only been three cat 5s strike the US: the '35 Labor Day storm, Camille, and Andrew. Katrina was not a cat 5 when it struck the US.

[abajan]

...And folks, it is not exactly impossible for a Category 5 to happen in October, ala Hurricane Mitch. Don't think I need to remind you about him.

Actually, you may need to remind many of us because whatever the final death toll with Katrina, it will be nowhere near the 11,000 or so who perished in that monster hurricane less than seven years ago.

[SkeetoBite]

I don't recall two cat 5s striking the US in the same season before.Must be some kind of record if it does happen with Rita

I couldn't find any time that 2 CAT 5's made landfall in the U.S. in the same year, but I did find an occassion where 2 CAT 5's in the same season eventually made U.S. landfall, though not at CAT 5:

Donna - 1960
Ethel - 1960 (Hurdat data is suspicous but likely accurate for this storm)