868 
 WTNT23 KNHC 230853
 TCMAT3
 HURRICANE RITA FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER  23
 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL182005
 0900Z FRI SEP 23 2005
  
 A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM PORT O'CONNOR TEXAS TO MORGAN
 CITY LOUISIANA. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS
 ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
 COMPLETION.
  
 A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF
 LOUISIANA EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL RIVER
 INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN....AND
 FROM SOUTH OF PORT O'CONNOR TO PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS.  A TROPICAL
 STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
 WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  SOME PORTIONS OF
 THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN TEXAS COULD BE DISCONTINUED LATER
 TODAY.
  
 AT 4 AM CDT...0900Z...THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS DISCONTINUED FOR
 THE TEXAS COAST SOUTH OF PORT MANSFIELD AND FOR NORTHEASTERN
 MEXICO.
  
 HURRICANE CENTER LOCATED NEAR 26.8N  91.0W AT 23/0900Z
 POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN  15 NM
  
 PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR 305 DEGREES AT   8 KT
  
 ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE  927 MB
 EYE DIAMETER  30 NM
 MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 120 KT WITH GUSTS TO 145 KT.
 64 KT....... 75NE  60SE  40SW  50NW.
 50 KT.......120NE 100SE  80SW 100NW.
 34 KT.......180NE 150SE 120SW 140NW.
 12 FT SEAS..350NE 250SE 250SW 300NW.
 WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT.  RADII IN NAUTICAL
 MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
  
 REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 26.8N  91.0W AT 23/0900Z
 AT 23/0600Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 26.5N  90.7W
  
 FORECAST VALID 23/1800Z 27.6N  92.2W
 MAX WIND 125 KT...GUSTS 155 KT.
 64 KT... 75NE  75SE  40SW  50NW.
 50 KT...120NE 100SE  80SW 100NW.
 34 KT...180NE 160SE 120SW 160NW.
  
 FORECAST VALID 24/0600Z 28.9N  93.6W
 MAX WIND 120 KT...GUSTS 145 KT.
 64 KT... 75NE  75SE  40SW  50NW.
 50 KT...120NE 100SE  80SW 110NW.
 34 KT...180NE 160SE 120SW 160NW.
  
 FORECAST VALID 24/1800Z 30.4N  94.6W...INLAND
 MAX WIND  80 KT...GUSTS 100 KT.
 64 KT... 60NE  75SE  40SW  40NW.
 50 KT... 80NE 100SE  80SW  80NW.
 34 KT...140NE 160SE 120SW 120NW.
  
 FORECAST VALID 25/0600Z 31.5N  95.0W...INLAND
 MAX WIND  45 KT...GUSTS  55 KT.
 34 KT... 75NE 100SE  75SW  75NW.
  
 FORECAST VALID 26/0600Z 33.0N  94.5W...INLAND
 MAX WIND  30 KT...GUSTS  40 KT.
  
 EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 250 NM
 ON DAY 4 AND 325 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
  
 OUTLOOK VALID 27/0600Z 33.0N  94.5W...INLAND
 MAX WIND  25 KT...GUSTS  35 KT.
  
 OUTLOOK VALID 28/0600Z 33.0N  94.5W...INLAND DISSIPATING
 MAX WIND  25 KT...GUSTS  35 KT.
  
 REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 26.8N  91.0W
  
 NEXT ADVISORY AT 23/1500Z
  
 FORECASTER BEVEN
  
  
 $$