Remember, the 1900 Galveston storm was a Category 4 hurricane.

[MercutioATC]

(well, what WOULD have been a Cat4 had the ranking been around then)

Rita downgrading from a 5 to a 4 is good, but a Category 4 hurricane still packs one hell of a punch.

[skooooo]

1. just heard it's now cat. 3

[MercutioATC]

3. Yes, but it's expected to build again during the day...

...warmer air and such...

[tx_dem41]

9. Actually if you read the latest discussion on NOAA...

they are backing off any further strengthening and fairly assuredly saying it makes landfall as a CAT 3 with a very small chance at being a weak CAT 4.

[MercutioATC]

11. I just read that, thanks.

Good news.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Galveston is much more prepared now

That storm took them totally by surprise (most hurricanes went North & the US weather people in Cuba said that it was going to do that...)

Also, they have built up the city since then and also put in levees. I think they've endured a few Cat 4s since 1900 with much better results than the disaster of 1900.

[rkc3]

4. IIRC, there was no warning system in place at the time.

Additionally, I think there were reports that an amateur meteorologist had tried to send warnings through the radio that something was brewing in the Gulf - his barometer dropped like a rock - but no one would listen. They saw a beautiful beach and ignored the warnings.

That, combined with the absence of a sea wall did the city in.

[benburch]

5. The weather service in Galveston hoisted Hurricane warnings, IIRC.

They knew something was coming.

[rkc3]

7. Here's a good link to follow:

http://www.1900storm.com/storm/storm3.lasso

It describes the events leading up to the storm better than I can. The whole site is interesting as well.

[MercutioATC]

6. True, but that seawall is only 17 feet high and only protects 1/3 of

Galveston's coastline.

They're estimating a storm surge between 15-20 feet.

There's no doubt the seawall will help quite a bit, but if Rita does hit Galveston, there's going to be a LOT of damage (remember, too, that Galveston's housing density is considerable higher than it was in 1900).

[tx_dem41]

10. Rita's going to be making landfall probably 30-50 miles EAST

of Galveston, greatly reducing storm surge.

[MercutioATC]

12. And, it's probably going to hit as a Cat3. Good news.

[Zomby Woof]

8. Galveston was also hit with a 4 in 1915

Them and New Orleans. That was the last time 2 Cat4's hit the mainland US until now.