Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday along the upper and middle Texas Gulf Coast, but the storm’s effects could be felt as far inland as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

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In Central Texas forecasters say sustained winds of 40 to 60 miles per hour are possible with even higher gusts south of a line from Lampasas to Hillsboro to Athens.

The winds may be strong enough to knock down trees and power lines and to cause minor structural damage.

Power outages could be widespread and could last for as long as a week in some areas.

The winds are strong enough to roll over mobile homes, which could also be damaged by falling trees.

The winds should taper off to 30 to 40 miles per hour farther north on Sunday morning.

Heavy rains of 6 inches or more are possible and flooding could occur, especially east of the Interstate 35 corridor.

Rita could produce isolated tornados as well, along and to the east of Interstate 35.

The heavy rainfall and an increase in traffic could lead to delays and accidents, forecasters said.

Baylor University and Texas A&M University have both canceled Friday classes in anticipation of severe weather from the storm. Baylor has not yet made a decision about whether the University will close, however.

The City of Waco has opened a temporary shelter for evacuees at the Bledsoe-Miller Recreation Center at 300 MLK Dr.

In Bell County, the Bell County Expo Center on Interstate 35 will serve as a staging point for arriving evacuees, who will be provided limited medical care, water and refreshments and who will then be directed to shelters in Harker Heights, Belton, Killeen and Copperas Cove. Once those shelters are full, the Expo Center will be opened to handle up to 300 more evacuees. If the Expo Center fills up, other evacuees will be directed to the nearest open shelter. Temple is working directly with the state to provide shelter for a limited number of evacuees with special needs.

A number of area events have also been canceled because of the approaching hurricane.

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HOME EMERGENCY SUPPLY CHECKLIST:

Flashlight, portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries
First-aid kit
Emergency food and water (including a non-electric can opener)
Essential medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes and a change of clothing
Copies of important papers (bank statements, insurance records, deeds, etc.)

MAJOR TEXAS HURRICANES:

July 20, 2005: Emily, storm packing 125 mph winds hit near San Fernando, Mexico, a coastal town about 85 miles south of Brownsville. Minimal damage reported in South Padre and Port Isabel. No deaths or serious injuries. Scattered power outages.

July 15, 2003: Claudette, Matagorda Bay-Victoria; two inland deaths, $180 million in damage across central Texas coast from winds peaking near 100 mph.

Aug. 22, 1999: Bret, Kenedy County; four highway deaths in Laredo, scattered damage as storm with 140 mph winds moved into sparsely populated region.

Sept. 16-18, 1988: Gilbert, 125 miles south of Brownsville; one dead in San Antonio; tornado and wind damage of $5 million in Brownsville, Del Rio and San Antonio.

Aug. 18, 1983: Alicia, Galveston-Houston; 21 dead, more than $2 billion damage; 22 tornadoes, winds 130 mph. Last major hurricane to strike Texas.

Aug. 9, 1980: Allen, lower coast; two dead, $55 million damage; winds 185 mph.

Sept. 3-12, 1971: Fern, middle coast; two dead, $30.2 million damage.

Aug. 3, 1970: Celia, Corpus Christi; 11 dead, $50 million damage; wind gusts to 160 mph.

Sept. 18-23, 1967: Beulah, Brownsville; 13 dead, $150 million damage.

Sept. 11-13, 1961: Carla, Port O'Connor-Galveston-Houston; 34 dead, $300 million damage; wind gusts estimated at 175 mph, storm tide 18.5 feet at Port Lavaca.

June 27, 1957: Audrey, Sabine Pass; 10 dead, $8 million damage.

Oct. 3-4, 1949: Freeport-Houston; two dead, $6.5 million damage; wind gusts estimated at 135 mph; storm tide 11.5 feet at Freeport.

Aug. 25-29, 1945: Port O'Connor; three dead, $20.1 million damage; wind gusts estimated at 135 mph; storm tide 15 feet at Port Lavaca.

July 27, 1943: Galveston Bay-Houston; 19 dead, $16.6 million damage.

Aug. 29-31, 1942: Matagorda Bay; eight dead; $26.5 million damage; winds 115 mph, storm tide 14.7 feet at Matagorda.

Sept. 23, 1941: Texas City; four dead, $6.5 million damage.

July 25, 1934: Seadrift; 19 dead, $4.5 million damage.

Sept. 4-5, 1933: Brownsville; 40 dead, $16.9 million damage.

Aug. 13-14, 1932; Velasco (Freeport); 40 dead, $7.5 million damage.

Sept. 14, 1919: South of Corpus Christi; 284 dead, $20.3 million damage; winds 110 mph, storm tide 16 feet.

Aug. 18-19, 1916: Corpus Christi; 20 dead, $1.6 million damage.

Aug. 16-19, 1915: Galveston; 375 dead, damage over $56 million. Most losses ($50 million) to crops; storm tide 16.1 feet.

July 21-22, 1909: Velasco (Freeport); 41 dead, damage at least $2 million.

Sept. 8-10, 1900: Galveston; 6,000-12,000 dead; damage $30 million to $40 million (around $800 million in today's dollars); Storm surge 15-20 feet, winds estimated at 120 mph; Deadliest
natural disaster in U.S. history.