[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KLCH 211309
HLSLCH
LAZ029-033-044-045-051>055-211600-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
800 AM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE RITA CONTINUES TO ADVANCE WEST
ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO.

...A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING THURSDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO JEFFERSON AND ORANGE COUNTIES IN
SOUTHEAST TEXAS...CAMERON...CALCASIEU...JEFFERSON
DAVIS...ACADIA...VERMILION...LAFAYETTE...UPPER AND LOWER SAINT
MARTIN...IBERIA AND SAINT MARY PARISHES IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

...WATCHES/WARNING...
A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING THURSDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST TEXAS...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA. A COASTAL
FLOOD WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR COASTAL FLOODING
DEVELOPING AS HURRICANE RITA NEARS. A HEAT ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT
FOR TODAY. PEOPLE THAT PLAN ON EVACUATING OR THOSE MAKING PREPARATIONS
FOR THE HURRICANE NEED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION AND DRINK PLENTY OF
WATER.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 7 AM...THE CENTER OF MAJOR HURRICANE RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 24.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 85.3 WEST...OR ABOUT 195 MILES WEST
OF KEY WEST FLORIDA.

RITA IS MOVING WEST NEAR 14 MPH.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE 135 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS NOW
A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EVACUATION INFORMATION...AS OF 7 AM CDT...AN EVACUATION HAS BEEN
ORDERED FOR COASTAL CAMERON PARISH INCLUDING JOHNSONS BAYOU...HOLLY
BEACH AND THE CITY OF CAMERON.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
SWELLS AHEAD OF HURRICANE RITA WILL BEGIN TO IMPACT THE NEAR COASTAL
WATERS THURSDAY...WITH INCREASING COASTAL TIDES THURSDAY EVENING AND
CONTINUING WITH HURRICANE RITA'S PASSAGE.

...WIND IMPACTS...
ON RITAS CURRENT PATH...TROPICAL FORCE WINDS COULD BE REACHED AS
EARLY AS THURSDAY NIGHT ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10 ACROSS THE REGION
AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY.

...RAINFALL...
RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH RITA ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FRIDAY.


...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT ON HURRICANE RITA WILL BE ISSUED BY 1030 AM.

$$


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