The most active hurricane season on record in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico occurred in 2005, fueled by higher than normal sea-surface temperatures (National Climatic Data Center 2005). Eleven tropical cyclones entered the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, including Hurricane Rita (a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Scale). Hurricane Rita was a Category 3 storm when it passed near the shelf edge banks on September 23, 2005 and produced wind speeds of 126.7-138.3 mph (110-120 knots). Hurricane force winds extended 86-mi (139-km) and tropical storm force winds extended as far as 207-mi (333-km) from the center of the storm (National Hurricane Center 2007).