how many cat 5s does it take to turn a right-winger into a tree-hugger?

we may or may not learn the answer this weekend.

as of this writing rita has slowed to category 4 after passing over a patch of cool water, but more warm water lies ahead, along with air temperatures in the 90s and as high as 100°F today near the texas coast, so a return to cat 5 is definitely possible.

galveston has been fully evacuated. however, the storm no longer appears headed there. it's turned northward and looks like it will make landfall near the texas-louisiana line.

in terms of pressure, rita is the 3rd most intense hurricane on record. it is nearly 400 miles across. on the tv weather map it looks like it covers half the gulf of mexico.