Hurricane+Katrina+(2005)

**__ What is a Hurricane: __**
==A hurricane is a storm system characterized by a low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricanes strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. The characteristic that separates hurricanes from other cyclonic systems is that at any height in the atmosphere, the center of a hurricane will be warmer than its surroundings this is called a "warm core" storm systems.== ==Tropical Cyclones (some later turn into hurricanes) develop over large bodies of warm water, and lose their strength if they move over land due to increased surface friction and loss of the warm ocean as an energy source. This is why coastal regions can receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone, while inland regions are relatively safe from receiving strong winds. Heavy rains, however, can produce significant flooding inland, and storm surges can produce extensive coastal flooding up to 25 miles from the coastline. Although their effects on human populations can be devastating, tropical cyclones can relieve drought conditions. They also carry heat energy away from the tropics and transport it toward temperate latitudes, which makes them an important part of the global atmospheric circulation mechanism. As a result, tropical cyclones help to maintain equilibrium in the Earth's troposphere, and to maintain a relatively stable and warm temperature worldwide.== = = = = =__Start of Katrina:__= ==Hurricane Katrina developed first as a tropical depression, #12 of the season, in the southeastern Bahamas on August 23rd. After this Katrina strengthened into Tropical Storm the next day. It then continued to move slowly along a northwesterly then westerly track through the Bahamas, increasing in strength during this time. A few hours before landfall in south Florida at around 6.30 EDT on August 25th, Katrina strengthened to become a category 1 hurricane. Landfall occurred near North Miami Beach, Florida, with windspeeds of approximately 80 mph which is equal to 70 kts. Gusts of above 90 mph, equal to 78 kts, were measured as Katrina came ashore. The storm then moved southwest across the tip of the Florida peninsula, Katrina's strength weakened slightly before restrengthening to hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico. For spending seven hours over land, its strength was not significantly weakened and it re-intensified quickly after moving over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.== =__Damage in Florida:__= ==Katrina made landfall near the border of Broward and Miami-Dade counties with 80 mph winds on August 25. While it was crossing the state, the hurricane's convection was asymmetrical, primarily located to the south and east of the center. As a result, high rainfall totals occurred in the Miami area, peaking at 16.43 in Perrine. The rains caused flooding, and the combination of rains and winds downed trees and power lines, leaving 1.4 million people without power. Damage in South Florida was estimated at $523 million, mostly as a result of crop damage. Further south, the hurricane spawned a tornado in the Florida Keys. In the island chain, Katrina dropped heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The hurricane's outer periphery produced a 5.37 ft storm surge in Pensacola along the panhandle. High waves caused beach erosion and closed nearby roadways. There were five tornadoes in northwestern Florida. Damage was estimated along the panhandle at $100 million. Throughout the state, the hurricane killed 14 people, of which 6 were directly related to the storm's effects. Due to damage from Katrina, 11 Florida counties were declared federal disaster areas.==

= Katrina slamming into Florida.=

=Flooding and damage was seen thoughout Florida( to the right)= =__Katrina moves on:__= ==Katrina quickly re-intensified shortly after moving over the warm waters of the Gulf. Katrina moved almost due westward after entering the Gulf of Mexico. A mid-level ridge centered over Texas weakened and moved westward allowing Katrina to gradually turn to the northwest and then north into the weakness in the ridging over the days that followed. Atmospheric and sea-surface conditions were conducive to cyclones rapid intensification, which lead to Katrina attaining 'major hurricane' status on the afternoon of the 26th.==

=Image of Katrina strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico= ==Continuing to strengthen and move northwards during the next 48 hours, Katrina reached maximum wind speeds on the morning of Sunday August 28th of over 170 mph which is a category 5 hurricane; and its minimum central pressure dropped that afternoon to 902 mb which wasthe 4th lowest on record for an Atlantic storm. Although Katrina, at its peak strength was comparable to Camille's intensity, it was a significantly larger storm and impacted a broader area of the Gulf coast.== ==Katrina dropped to a strong category 4 strength hurricane due to the influence of drier air and an opening of the eyewall to the south and southwest before landfall on the morning of the 29th. It made its' second landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Buras-Triumph,LA with 145 mph winds on August 29th. Landfalling wind speeds at Grand Isle, LA were approximately 125 mph which is a very strong category 3 hurricane; with a central pressure of 920mb. The 3rd lowest on record for a landfalling Atlantic storm in the US.== =Wind Speed of Katrina at landfall= = Hurricane Katrina at landfall(to the right) =

__ Rain, Wind, and Storm Surge: __
==Rainfall from Katrina's outer bands began affecting the Gulf coast well before landfall. As Katrina came ashore on August 29th, rainfall exceeded rates of 1 inch/hour across a large area of the coast. Newton, MS measured rainfall rates of over an inch an hour for 3 consecutive hours, with rates of over 0.5 in/hr for 5 hours during August 29th. Precipitation analysis from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center show that rainfall accumulations exceeded 8-10 inches along much of the hurricane's path and to the east of the track.== ==Windspeeds over 140 mph were recorded at landfall in southeastern Louisiana while winds gusted to over 100 mph in New Orleans, just west of the eye. As the hurricane made its second landfall on the Mississippi/Louisiana border, wind speeds were approximately 110 kts (125 mph) when it made landfall. Gusts were also measured of over 80mph in Mobile and 90 mph in Biloxi, MS.==

=Making Landfall(To right)= ==In the inland areas the storm weakened to a tropical storm on the 29th, rainfall became the primary impact. Rainfall amounts exceeded 2-4 inches across a large area from the Gulf coast to the Ohio Valley. As a result, flood watches and warnings were common across these regions. Rain bands from Katrina also produced tornadoes causing further damage in areas such as Georgia.== =Katrina's Track(To right)=

=__Other Impacts:__= ==The loss of life was up there with some of the most devastating natural disasters in recent US history. The loss of life was greater then 1,836. Which included 14 in Florida, 1,577 in Louisiana, 2 in Alabama, 2 in Georgia, 2 in Ohio, 1 in Kentucky, and 238 in Mississippi.== =Damage from Katrina(To right)= ==The primary damage seen in New Orleans was flooding. At least 80% of New Orleans was under flood water on August 31st, largely as a result of levee failures from Lake Pontchartrain. The combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge led to breaks in the earthen levee after the storm passed, leaving some parts of New Orleans under 20 feet of water. Storm surge from Mobile Bay led to inundation of Mobile, Alabama causing imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the City. Large portions of Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi were underwater as a result of a 20 to 30+ foot storm surge which flooded the cities.== ==Over 1.7 million people lost power during this storm in the Gulf States. Due to this the people who had lost power were without power for several weeks. This proved many problems for New Orleans residents; drinking water was unavailiable due to a broken water main that serves the city. Power Outages was not only seen in the Gulf States but, also was seen in Florida where 1.3 people lost power when Katrina made landfall on August 24th.== = Flooding in New Orleans= = Power Outages Seen in New Orleans(to the right)= ==A major economic impact for the nation was stoppage of the oil industry from Katrina. Preliminary estimates suggested that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was reduced by 1.4 million barrels per day as a result of the hurricane.The 1.4 million barrels a day equated to 95% of the daily Gulf of Mexico production. Gasoline had reached a record high price/gallon as of Monday August 30th.== ==Travel was also heavily influenced due to Katrina. Both of New Orleans' airports were flooded and closed on August 30th. The bridges of Interstate 10 leading east out of the city were completely destroyed. Coastal highways along the Gulf were impassable in places and most minor roads near the shore were both covered in debris and flooded for days. Katrina also disrupted travel as it headed inland, due to more than 2 inches of rain falling across a large area from the coast to parts of Ohio during the 48 hours after Katrina made landfall.== ==It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall. At least 1,836 people died in the actual hurricane and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane; total property damage was estimated at $81 billion US dollars, nearly triple the damage wrought by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.==



__Powerpoint:__


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