On This Day: Hurricane Rita Sweeps Across The Gulf Coast | WeatherBug
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On This Day: Hurricane Rita Sweeps Across The Gulf Coast

September 25, 2020
By WeatherBug's Chris Sayles
On this day 15 years ago during the record-breaking 2005 Hurricane Season, Hurricane Rita slammed into the Gulf Coast. Rita would arrive on the heels of the devastating Hurricane Katrina which impacted the central Gulf Coast just a month prior.

Taking a traditional path, a tropical wave swept across the Atlantic Ocean on September 7, 2005. This band of showers and storms would make their way into the even warmer waters west of the Bahamas, and by September 18, Tropical Storm Rita would form. It did not take the system long to attain hurricane strength as it passed over the Florida Strait and Cuba. It was here that Rita would begin strengthening and become a formidable storm during an already catastrophic season.

After passing through southern Florida, Rita would emerge into the Gulf of Mexico which is famous for its warm waters and favorable environment. This same environment would lead Rita into a phase of rapid intensification, and by September 21, Hurricane Rita would strengthen to a monstrous Category 5 hurricane. Packing estimated sustained winds of 180 mph with a central pressure of 895 mb or 26.43 inches of mercury, Rita would become the strongest hurricane recorded in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the fourth strongest in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin.  

Since this system was heading towards the Gulf Coast, a sigh of relief was released when signs pointed to the system weakening from wind shear and cooler than normal waters. Rita would weaken to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph and a central pressure of 937 mb or 27.67 inches of mercury. Still a ferocious storm, Rita would make landfall across the Texas and Louisiana border early on September 24, 2005. 

This deadly storm brought storm surge up to 18 feet across the Cameron parish in Louisiana with 8 to 12 feet swarming parts of Louisiana and southeastern Texas. This was not the only effect of Rita. As the eye swept onto shore, areas such as Holly Beach, La., saw extensive damages to the point that the city was barely recognizable from satellite views.

In preparation of Hurricane Rita, millions of people tried to evacuate before the storm’s arrival in lieu of the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has previously caused. However, excessive temperatures between 90 and 120 degrees was in full fury as people attempted to flee, leading to cars overheating and stalling on the highways across Texas. This led to the deaths of over 100 people due to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion.

As it pertains to direct affects, Rita claimed the lives of 7 people with total damages racking up to $18.5 billion. Hurricane Rita’s devastation would lead to the storm being retired from the Atlantic naming list, never to be used again. In fact, Rita would be one of five storms to be retired in the 2005 Hurricane Season which included Hurricane Katrina.

Sources: NHC, NOAA, NWS, USGS

Story Image: Holly Beach, La., aerial photo showing the town before and after Hurricane Rita. Not a single building was left standing. (USGS)