Forget Katrina, Forget Camile, Hurricane Rita Continues to Intensify Dangerously

This could be the biggest one yet.

From NOAA: MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 140 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND COULD REACH CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO.

Strong high pressure is holding to the North of Rita. This will continue for the next 48-hours. Then, as the high shifts East on Friday... Rita will turn Northwest toward Texas.

Multiple weather warnings are in effect for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Tags: Gulf Coast, Hurricane Rita, Mobile Alabama, Hurricane