Hurricane Rita (2005)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 18, 2005 to September 26, 2005

Peak strength

Category 5, 155 kt (178 mph)

Lowest pressure

895 mb (26.43 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

25.1

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

180 nmi (333 km, 207 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

75 nmi (139 km, 86 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

18 nmi (33 km, 21 mi)

Overall size

400 nmi (741 km, 460 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

185 kt (213 mph)

Fastest the center moved

33 kt (38 mph)

Identifier

AL182005

Radar at KLCH as it neared land, Sep 24, 07:40 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

7 (7 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

11

Property damage

$6.7 billion

Crop damage

$2.3 million

Events recorded

229 in 54 reports from 7 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

80 tropical storm, 78 hurricane (typhoon), 36 tornado, 17 storm surge/tide, 6 high surf, 6 flash flood, 5 strong wind, 1 rip current.

36 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 2,650 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 16.00 inches (406 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Hurricane Rita passed 45 miles south of Key West as a category two hurricane. Over the Monroe County Lower Keys, maximum winds were 63 knots (72 mph) with gusts to 80 knots (92 mph) at Sand Key. Minimum pressure recorded was 988.5 mb at Sand Key and 994.0 at Dry Tortugas. Rainfall totaled 2.05 inches at Key West. Maximum storm tides were 4 to 5 feet above sea level. Wind damage was generally to roofing and trees, with most damage occurring in Key West. Storm surge was significant in Key West flooding up to 200 residential properties.

Monroe/Lower Keys, Florida · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Sep 20, 14:00 UTC

Hurricane Rita passed 45 miles south of Key West as a category two hurricane. Over the Monroe County Upper Keys, maximum winds were sustained 39 knots (45 mph) with gusts to 52 knots (60 mph) at Long Key. Minimum pressure recorded was 1003.3 mb at Long Key. Rainfall totalled 4.26 inches at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. Storm tides estimated at 3 to 4 feet above mean sea level. Numerous coastal streets flooded with U.S. Highway One flooded at Sea Oats Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key.

Monroe/Upper Keys, Florida · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Sep 20, 14:00 UTC

Hurricane Rita made landfall in the early morning hours on Saturday, September 24. Rita was a dangerous Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale as she moved over Sabine Pass, Texas. Rita was downgraded to a Tropical Storm by early afternoon. As Rita moved north and then east along a Jasper, TX, to Lufkin, TX, to Shreveport, LA line...torrential rains and strong winds were felt well away from the eye. Most of eastern Texas was placed under an Inland Tropical Storm warning through the evening. The storm knocked dozens of trees and power poles down as it moved through north Texas. Gusts near 50 MPH were recorded in Hunt and Hopkins counties. Wind damage in the form of downed trees and power poles was reported in Anderson, Collin, Fannin, Hopkins, and Hunt counties. Roof damage also occured in Collin and Hunt.

Anderson, Texas · Tropical Storm · Sep 24, 15:30 UTC

Hurricane Rita dumped several inches of rainfall across the city in a short amount of time. The excessive heavy rainfall resulted in widespread flooding across portions of the city including Youree Dr, Hearne Ave and Midway, North Market St, and Interstate 20 at Pines Rd and Jewella.

Caddo, Louisiana · Flash Flood · Sep 24, 18:50 UTC

Hurricane Rita made landfall in the early morning hours on Saturday, September 24. Rita was a dangerous Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale as she moved over Sabine Pass, Texas. Rita was downgraded to a Tropical Storm by early afternoon. As Rita moved north and then east along a Jasper, TX, to Lufkin, TX, to Shreveport, LA line...torrential rains and strong winds were felt well away from the eye. Most of eastern Texas was placed under an Inland Tropical Storm warning through the evening. The storm knocked dozens of trees and power poles down as it moved through north Texas. Gusts near 50 MPH were recorded in Hunt and Hopkins counties. Wind damage in the form of downed trees and power poles was reported in Anderson, Collin, Fannin, Hopkins, and Hunt counties. Roof damage also occured in Collin and Hunt.

Fannin, Texas · Tropical Storm · Sep 24, 19:19 UTC

A strong tornado was spawned in Lonoke County roughly 2 miles east-southeast of Bevis Corner. The tornado moved to the northwest around the remnants of Hurricane Rita. Estimated winds with the tornado were about 120 mph. The tornado demolished a couple of mobile homes, with an injury in one of these homes. Several other mobile homes sustained some damage, such as being moved off of their foundations or having their roofs caved in. In one of these homes, 4 additional injuries were noted. The tornado was on the ground for just over 7 miles before dissipating near Kerr.

Lonoke, Arkansas · Tornado · Sep 24, 21:40 UTC

A strong tornado briefly touched down in northern Conway County. The tornado moved to the northwest around the remnants of Hurricane Rita. Estimated winds with the tornado were about 125 mph. All of the damage observed was on a hilltop. A double-wide mobile home, which had been tied down with tie-down straps, was destroyed. The home was blown across the highway, with much of the debris striking a church. The church itself had considerable damage. A sport utility vehicle also sustained some damage. The tornado was on the ground for about one mile before dissipating.

Conway, Arkansas · Tornado · Sep 24, 23:48 UTC

National Weather Service meteorologists performed aerial and ground surveys across northwest Tuscaloosa County. The damage that occurred along Robertson Road was determined to be a tornado. The tornado touched down west of Cooper Road and Robertson Road near Dunn Creek at approximately 255 PM CDT. The tornado traveled just east of north and crossed Robertson Road. At least two homes suffered roof damage and several out-buildings and barns were damaged. Several trees were snapped off or blown down along the path. The tornado lifted around 257 PM CDT along the Right Hand Fork. The tornado has been rated an F0 on the Fujita scale. The tornado damage path was 1.6 miles long and 80 yards wide at its widest point. This tornado was produced by the remnants of Hurricane Rita. Begin: 33 22.90/87 49.70 End: 33 24.27/87 49.45

Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tornado · Sep 25, 19:55 UTC

A weak tornado affected areas in and near the Coatopa community. The tornado touched down near the intersection of State Highway 28 and County Road 23, southeast of Livingston, at approximately 942 PM CDT. The tornado tracked northeastward and crossed Mundy Road in several spots. The tornado lifted near the intersection of Mundy Road and County Road 23 around 946 PM CDT. Several trees were blown down, snapped off, or twisted along the path. Near the end of the tornado path, some of the downed trees caused damage to vehicles and a house trailer. Two small barns also had their roofs partially damaged. The tornado damage path was 2.8 miles long and 50 yards wide at its widest point. This tornado was produced by the remnants of Hurricane Rita.Begin: 32 29.13/88 04.27 End: 32 30.39/88 01.74

Sumter, Alabama · Tornado · Sep 26, 02:42 UTC

• Tropical Storm ArleneNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 1 death · $12 millionTropical Storm60 kt · 989 mb
• Tropical Storm BretNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 1 deathTropical Storm35 kt · 1002 mb
• Hurricane CindyNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 1 death · $320 millionCat 165 kt · 991 mb
• Hurricane DennisNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 42 deaths · $2.5 billionCat 4130 kt · 930 mb
• Hurricane EmilyNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 6 deathsCat 5140 kt · 929 mb
• Tropical Storm FranklinNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm60 kt · 997 mb
• Tropical Storm GertNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm40 kt · 1005 mb
• Tropical Storm HarveyNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm55 kt · 994 mb
• Hurricane IreneNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 290 kt · 970 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Depression30 kt · 1008 mb
• Tropical Storm JoseNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 6 deathsTropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane KatrinaNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 520 deaths · $125 billionCat 5150 kt · 902 mb
• Tropical Storm LeeNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm35 kt · 1006 mb
• Hurricane MariaNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 3100 kt · 962 mb
• Hurricane NateNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 180 kt · 979 mb
• Hurricane OpheliaNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 1 death · $70 millionCat 175 kt · 976 mb
• Hurricane PhilippeNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 170 kt · 985 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Depression30 kt · 1006 mb
• Hurricane StanNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 80 deathsCat 170 kt · 977 mb
• Unnamed tropical stormNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm45 kt · 997 mb
• Tropical Storm TammyNorth Atlantic · 2005 · $25 millionTropical Storm45 kt · 1001 mb
• Unnamed tropical stormNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm40 kt · 1005 mb
• Hurricane VinceNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 165 kt · 988 mb
• Hurricane WilmaNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 23 deaths · $21 billionCat 5160 kt · 882 mb
• Tropical Storm AlphaNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 28 deathsTropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane BetaNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 3100 kt · 962 mb
• Tropical Storm GammaNorth Atlantic · 2005 · 37 deathsTropical Storm45 kt · 1002 mb
• Tropical Storm DeltaNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm60 kt · 980 mb
• Hurricane EpsilonNorth Atlantic · 2005Cat 175 kt · 981 mb
• Tropical Storm ZetaNorth Atlantic · 2005Tropical Storm55 kt · 994 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Rita