As Hurricane Rita approaches the Gulf Coast, we'll bring you the latest on preparations for this major storm. The hurricane is expected to weaken somewhat before making landfall - but is still expected to come ashore as a strong Category 3 storm with winds up to 130 miles per hour. Hurricane warnings were in place for an area ranging from Port O'Connor, TX to Morgan City, LA.The storm is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning.

New Orleans is expecting to face tropical storm-level winds, and up to 5 inches of rain -- the first real rain the city has received since Hurricane Katrina. In this special coverage from NPR News, we'll look at storm planning, prediction, and preparations in the affected areas. How will the storm affect the residents of Texas and Louisiana? What about effects on infrastructure and oil production? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Mark McInerney
National Hurricane Center
Miami, Florida

Kerry Emanuel
Author, Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes
Professor, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Gerry Bell
Lead forecaster for NOAA's seasonal hurricane outlook
Climate Prediction Center
National Weather Service
Camp Springs, Maryland

Judy Curry
Professor and Chair, School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia

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This segment produced by Karin Vergoth and Charles Bergquist