Hurricane Rita's Rainfall - September 22

Hurricane Rita is now a Category 5 storm and on Sept. 21, 2005, was declared the third strongest hurricane in recorded history. New 3-D satellite images show the rainfall distribution inside the storm and the surrounding warm water that continues to fuel this hurricane heat engine. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed the distribution of rainfall inside Hurricane Rita on Sept. 22, 2005. At the time of observation, this Category 5 hurricane had a minimum pressure of 898 millibars, sustained winds of 170 mph and a 17-mile wide eye. Maximum rainfall, shown in red, equals two or more inches of rain per hour.