Hurricane Rita

Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 2005

Hurricane Rita was a powerful hurricane in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It hit the United States' Gulf Coast. At its peak intensity, it was a strong Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 miles per hour. It made landfall as a Category 3 storm, and caused more flooding in New Orleans, which already had weakened levees due to Hurricane Katrina. In addition, it caused large power outages.

Hurricane Rita
Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Rita near peak intensity on September 21
FormedSeptember 18, 2005
DissipatedSeptember 26, 2005
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 180 mph (285 km/h)
Lowest pressure895 mbar (hPa); 26.43 inHg
Fatalities120
Damage$21.5 billion (2005 USD)
Areas affectedHispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Cuba, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Great Lakes region
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
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