Hurricane Rita Remains at Category 4,
Now Expected to Hit Port Arthur Area
Friday, Sep. 23, 2005
Posted: 10:56:26AM EST

As hundreds of thousands of Texas and Louisiana residents remain on their exodus from the coastal region, forecasters are now saying that Hurricane Rita, which remains at Category 4, may spare the Houston area a direct hit from its 140 mph winds.

The hurricane is now expected to hit the Texas Coast around the Beaumont and Port Arthur area, which is 75 miles east of Houston, sometime late tonight or early Saturday.

Forecasters warned of possible storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, large and dangerous battering waves, and rain of up to 12 inches in the area near where Rita makes landfall.

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