Tropical Storm Rita gaining muscle
Hurricane warning issued for southern Florida
Monday, September 19, 2005;
Posted: 7:25 a.m. EDT (11:25 GMT)

CNN) -- Tropical Storm Rita gained strength early Monday as it churned toward the Bahamas, triggering hurricane warnings in the Florida Keys and prompting authorities to order tourists out of the island chain.
At 5 a.m. EDT, Rita was about 250 miles southeast of the Bahamian capital, Nassau, moving west at nearly 9 mph, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported. Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 60 mph.
It is the 17th named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season -- and with water temperatures in the Florida Straits in the high 80s, it has plenty of fuel.
"Additional strengthening is expected, and Rita could become a hurricane during the next 24 hours," the forecast said.

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