posted on Sep, 20 2005 @ 07:12 PM
Here's the latest probability data from the NOAA (as of 23:00 EDT, though the image will automatically update):
The left-most column represents hours from the time of measurement, i.e., 24 would be 11:00 PM (EDT) Wednesday night.
As per this table, Rita has a 50% probability of becoming a Cat 4-5 hurricane by Wednesday evening.
However, while the highest probability for any
single outcome is that of Rita becoming a Cat 4-5 hurricane within 24 hours, there is also a 50%
chance that Rita will
not. And while there is a 30% that Rita will (become and) remain a Cat 4-5 over the next 72 hours -- again, the largest
single probabilty -- there is a 70% probability that Rita will be a Cat 3 or less.
It is important to note that the NOAA and NHC will update this chart every few hours. We could very well awake tomorrow to find
more ">98%"
entries in the table, or at the very least, significantly higher probabilities associated with the Cat 4-5 scenario. And my gut feeling is that's
exactly what is going to happen.
Here's the
link to the NOAA/NHC graphics page for updated
data.
Here's the latest NOAA sea surface temperature readings (only good through yesterday):
Figure a mean temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (86 F)... at least until the NOAA updates it's data (can be found
here).
[edit on 21-9-2005 by sdrumrunner]