Path Pushes T.S. Rita South
POSTED: Saturday, September 17, 2005
UPDATED: 7:16 pm EDT September 18,
2005
  |
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The latest computer models showing the projected path of Tropical Storm Rita moves the storm west on a path toward South Florida during the next few days, according to Local 6 News meteorologist Michele Cimino.
INTERACTIVE: Hurricanes 101 | Tracker
SPECIAL: Hurricane Guide -- Storm Status
ALERTS: Desktop | Premium Weather
Thousands of tourists jammed the highways Sunday after they were told to evacuate the lower Florida Keys because Tropical Storm Rita developed over the Bahamas and moved toward the vulnerable, low-lying island chain.Long-term forecasts had the system moving into the Gulf of Mexico late in the week as a hurricane, unwanted news for those still recovering from the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. But forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said it was too soon to tell exactly where it would go."Look at the cone of projected movement," Cimino said. "If you shift the path to the north and then all of the sudden we are included in some of those bands of rain that we don't want to be included in. So, we are going to be watching this very closely to see where this storm positions itself and where in the state it crosses over."The 18th depression of the Atlantic hurricane season developed east of the Turks and Caicos Islands late Saturday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said people in South Florida, the Florida Keys and central and western Cuba should closely monitor the system's progress. At 5 p.m, the center of Tropical Storm Rita was located near latitude 22.2 north, longitude 72.7 west or about 355 miles, 570 km, east-southeast of nassau. The government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos and for the southeast and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch also was issued for the northwest Bahamas.Tropical systems get a name when their sustained winds reach 39 mph. The depression would be named Tropical Storm Rita if it strengthens into the 17th named storm of the season.Philippe formed late Saturday well east of the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic. At 5 a.m., Philippe had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, up 5 mph from Saturday It was centered about 455 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and was moving to the northwest near 5 mph.Sunday, Philippe had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and was located about 455 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Isalnds. It was moving to the northwest near 5 mph."Things are getting a little crazy out there and a lot of it is very close to home," Cimino said.
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
INTERACTIVE: Hurricanes 101 | Tracker SPECIAL: Hurricane Guide -- Storm StatusALERTS: Desktop | Premium WeatherThousands of tourists jammed the highways Sunday after they were told to evacuate the lower Florida Keys because Tropical Storm Rita developed over the Bahamas and moved toward the vulnerable, low-lying island chain.Long-term forecasts had the system moving into the Gulf of Mexico late in the week as a hurricane, unwanted news for those still recovering from the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. But forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said it was too soon to tell exactly where it would go."Look at the cone of projected movement," Cimino said. "If you shift the path to the north and then all of the sudden we are included in some of those bands of rain that we don't want to be included in. So, we are going to be watching this very closely to see where this storm positions itself and where in the state it crosses over."The 18th depression of the Atlantic hurricane season developed east of the Turks and Caicos Islands late Saturday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said people in South Florida, the Florida Keys and central and western Cuba should closely monitor the system's progress. At 5 p.m, the center of Tropical Storm Rita was located near latitude 22.2 north, longitude 72.7 west or about 355 miles, 570 km, east-southeast of nassau. The government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos and for the southeast and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch also was issued for the northwest Bahamas.Tropical systems get a name when their sustained winds reach 39 mph. The depression would be named Tropical Storm Rita if it strengthens into the 17th named storm of the season.Philippe formed late Saturday well east of the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic. At 5 a.m., Philippe had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, up 5 mph from Saturday It was centered about 455 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and was moving to the northwest near 5 mph.Sunday, Philippe had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and was located about 455 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Isalnds. It was moving to the northwest near 5 mph."Things are getting a little crazy out there and a lot of it is very close to home," Cimino said.
Third System Brewing
The National Hurricane Center is tracking another system today in the deep Atlantic.An area of disturbed weather is located about 850 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.Forecasters say this system has some potential for development as it moves westward to west- northwestward over the next couple of days.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NEW STORMS Projected Path: RitaAdvisories: INTERACTIVE NEW SERVICE MORE  Checklist Be Prepared When A Warning Is Issued Terminology Avoid Getting Ripped Off Know Your Insurance More Resources |
Authorities release a chilling 911 call from a 19-year-old woman who hid in the back bedroom of a Central Florida home while four men attempted to break into the house.
An ex-wife of the man who found the remains of Caylee Anthony says that she thought her ex-husband was responsible for or involved in the girl's death.
Five people are dead after a mobile home fire broke out in Central Florida.
In a show of unity, Senate Democrats sealed a 60-vote majority needed to advance health care legislation Saturday ahead of an evening showdown with Republicans eager to doom the bill and inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama.
Dashcam video shows a Florida woman offering an officer sex instead of getting a ticket.
A 3-year-old boy was left stranded at a commuter train platform when a door on the train malfunctioned, separating the toddler from his dad. A good Samaritan stayed with the child until the father could return. (Nov. 20)
A woman tired of hearing her son say he lost another sock has come up with an idea to prevent it from happening again.
South Carolina police say an obese man died after not moving from his recliner for the past eight months. Police say the man's body was physically stuck to the chair and firefighters had to cut him out. He died a few hours later at the hospital.
An Oregon appeals court has ruled against an Oregon high school teacher who wants to take her gun to class. She has been battling for years and says she needs the gun for protection. (Nov. 20)
Thirty Victoria's Secret supermodels take over New York's Times Square this week.
Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
Get your daily dose of the cute and unusual right here.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
