Skip to content

NHC AL182005 · Atlantic basin

Hurricane Rita (2005)

September 18, 2005 – September 26, 2005

Hurricane Rita peaked at Category 5 with 178 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 179 US cities, 48 of them while still at hurricane strength.

Peak strength
Category 5

178 mph

Cities within 75 mi
179
At hurricane strength
48

when closest

States
4

Cities Rita passed near, strongest first

Texas (110)

and 50 more

Louisiana (57)

Arkansas (8)

Florida (4)

About this record

The track is the National Hurricane Center's best-track record, revised after the season with every observation available. Strength at a city is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, not the wind that city measured.