Hurricane Rita is now a
massive category 5 hurricane
September 21, 2005
by Kevin Caruso
More that 1.3 million people from Texas and Louisiana have been evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Rita.
The category 5 hurricane is now the third most intense hurricane on record (in terms of atmophseric pressure).
The intensity of a hurricane can be measured in terms of atmospheric pressure.
Atmospheric pressure is measured in millibars, and the lower the number, the more powerful the hurricane.
The latest minimum central pressure of Hurricane Rita was 898, as reported by an Air Force Reserve plane.
“This makes Rita the third most intense hurricane in terms of pressure in the Atlantic basin,” the National Hurricane Center said.
By comparison, the lowest figure reported for hurricane Katrina was 902 millibars; and Hurricane Camille, which was an extremely powerful hurricane that hit in 1969, was 905 millibars.
