"The Gulf of Mexico remains unusually warm, and conditions are ideal for Rita to be able to sustain herself as a major hurricane. Rita is entering an area with greatest heat energy in the central Gulf and will likely maintain a Category 5 strength through this region. As the storm heads to the west, the available heat energy will drop off slightly, but will still be higher than normal. In fact, the meteorologists here at AccuWeather.com are confident that Rita will have enough available heat energy from Gulf waters to come onshore as a Category 4 hurricane late Friday or early Saturday"