September 22, 2005
by Kevin Caruso
Hurricane Rita has been downgreaded to a Category 4.
Sustained winds were measured at 150 m.p.h. at 2 p.m. ET, down from the peak of 175 mph earlier in the day.
The storm is about 435 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, moving west-northwest at 9 mph.
Residents in vulnerable areas are continuing to evacuate.