Rita drifting south

[logybogy]

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

If the trend continues, watch out, Corpus Christie may have a direct hit. Maybe even as far south as Brownsville.

With any luck, it could even hit where Bret hit in Kenedy County where nothing but cows live.

[LaBreeze]

Could it be like Katrina - she drifted south and southwest right before she took her turn to the northwest and north?

[hicksta]

Hurricanes stair step. And no its not drifting WSW. Still W

[DESTRUCTION5]

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

If the trend continues, watch out, Corpus Christie may have a direct hit. Maybe even as far south as Brownsville.

With any luck, it could even hit where Bret hit in Kenedy County where nothing but cows live.

Come on Logy..I thought you were smarter than falling into the Wobble trap..

[HouTXmetro]

Could it be like Katrina - she drifted south and southwest right before she took her turn to the northwest and north?

Are you talking about the unexpected SW movement over FLORIDA or the SW movement just before she turned towards NOLA?

[Brent]

With any luck, it could even hit where Bret hit in Kenedy County where nothing but cows live.

Problem is, Bret was a SMALL hurricane, this is huge. Corpus Christi would take a beating if Rita hit the same area.

[dwg71]

Could it be like Katrina - she drifted south and southwest right before she took her turn to the northwest and north?

No, set up is not the same.

[skysummit]

I doubt she'll turn north soon...it's almost impossible. Remember when they had Katrina turning north into Florida, but there was a northerly flow dipping down from Tennessee? Well, this is pretty much the same thing. There's a northerly flow dipping down from Miss/Alabama. I believe she'll stay south of the high until it begins to weaken or move out....if it ever does.

[LaBreeze]

After passing Florida.

[BReb]

This loop does a good job of showing both the track which is *just* south of west, also showing that the ridge remains very strong

http://orca.rsmas.miami.edu/wximages/jet/1_05/anis.html

check out where the hurricane is in relation to latitude 25 n at the beginning and end of this loop. And also look at the western edge of the ridge continuing to build in strong in New Mexico.

The ridge was looking about the same yesterday at this time. If it's going to weaken, it better do so in a hurry.

[Rouster]

It could be feeling the enlongated H that is sitting over Ms/Al.
One of the weather guys at WWL mentioned a weakness between that one and the H over Tx. You can see if ever so slightly on that WV image. I doubt seriously it will affect Rita, but that's the only chance a really see of Rita going towards the N.
I don't see her plowing into that H and the H over Tx appears very strong.

[HouTXmetro]

It could be feeling the enlongated H that is sitting over Ms/Al.
One of the weather guys at WWL mentioned a weakness between that one and the H over Tx. You can see if ever so slightly on that WV image. I doubt seriously it will affect Rita, but that's the only chance a really see of Rita going towards the N.
I don't see her plowing into that H and the H over Tx appears very strong.

Guys, we all said the same thing about Katrina. The Heights will begin to fall. Don't pay attention to the location of the High, just the strength of it.

[Frank2]

Yes, this could be just a wobble, though the situation sounds similar to Hurricane Anita (1977) - here is the link to the NHC page that contains the Preliminary Report (click on file prelim03.gif in particular):

ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archiv ... 977/anita/

Frank