Hurricane Rita now Category 4, heading toward Texas
Last Updated Wed, 21 Sep 2005 07:47:28 EDT
CBC News
Hurricane Rita was declared a Category 4 storm on Wednesday morning packing 215 km/h winds.
Ocean waves crash around a bus stop in Key West, Fl. as Hurricane Rita passes, Sept. 20th. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
* FROM AUG. 29, 2005: Hurricane categories
Rita became stronger Tuesday as it blasted the Florida Keys with flooding rain and strong wind, threatening the low-lying island chain with a storm surge of up to two metres. There were fears the storm could bring new misery to the U.S. Gulf Coast as it gains strength from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
It's targeted to hit land on the weekend, most likely in Texas, but Louisiana or northern Mexico could end up in its path.