Rita is becoming stronger
2005-09-23 14:46
Miami - United States meteorologists on Wednesday upgraded Hurricane Rita, which roared into the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after slamming Cuba and the Florida Keys islands, to a more powerful Category Three category on the five-level hurricane intensity scale.
At 06:00 on Wednesday Rita packed winds of 185km per hour, officials at the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre reported.
"Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours," the Hurricane Centre said in an advisory, "and Rita is expected to become a Category Four hurricane sometime later (Wednesday)."
Rita's centre was located 235km west of Key West, Florida, and about 210km northwest of Havana, and was moving west in the direction of the Texas coastline at a speed of around 22km/h, according to the Hurricane Centre.
The hurricane left more than 24 000 homes without power in Florida, sent street signs and coconuts flying and flooded parts of the only road that links the Florida Keys to the mainland.
Cuba set up 600 shelters in Havana and Civil Defence reported 230 000 evacuees, including 12 000 foreigners in the tourist area of Varadero. Hurricane warnings were in effect around Havana and western provinces.
In Louisiana, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina's August 29 hit, authorities were keeping a close eye on Rita, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin suspended the return of the city's residents because of the new threat.