Katrina Should Go Into The Record Books As A Cat 5

[Stormcenter]

You can't fault the models. They had N.O. in the bullseye late Friday afternoon. As a whole the models did an EXCELLENT job with Katrina's final landfall. The NHC did their BEST to warn everyone. As to whether or not Katrina was a Cat.4 or 5 at landfall? Now come on guys "DOES IT REALLY MATTER NOW"? I was debating it a few days ago and then I realized some you mets are really into this "It was only a Cat 4 at landfall" thing and yes I was guilty of fueling the debate. But after seeing more of the destruction and all of the people left homeless I realized it does it make one bit a difference to me or to any of those poor people in LA, MS, or AL. So you guys can debate it all you want from now on. I don't want any part of it.

[Chris48]

In my opinion, I believe this was a category 5 Hurricane. The storm surge and pressure reading well support a cat. 5. Also on local TV news, a report went by of a hand held wind reader reading 188mph. But, does it really mater what the intensity goes down as. It is just a technicality. It might break some record such as costliest and deadliest. But we all know what hell on earth is like, a major/catastrophic hurricane is a major catastrophic hurricane (period).

[MWatkins]

This was one of the NHC's finest forecast jobs ever.

I am in 100% total agreement on that point. After the SW curve on Thursday night they were quick to adapt to that new information...there were many in Texas for example...who thought that the SW movement which occured through midday on Friday meant they were in trouble. But the weren't...and the NHC absolutely nailed this forecast in terms of track and got as close as is reasonably possible in terms of intensity. They warned NO...and NO waited until the AM Sunday to issue a manditory evac order...leaving the city with just 18 hours or clearance time before TS force winds arrived.

MW

[seflcane]

Katrina was not a cat5 at landfall. A cat4 yes I think. 145-150 possible. I do however IMO say katrina was a cat4 at MS landfall also. Reason why katrina didnt maintain cat5 at landfall was cause of drier air worked into the system and disrupted the inflow just a bit and might have induced a eyewall replacement cycle at the last minute trying to reorganize which infact she did right at landfall "recon indicated possbile stronger winds". regardless this was a very devestating storm. Could have been alot worse wind wise yes. if you can recall Dr. Lyons hinted at this Sunday night about some dry air working into katrina at the last minute. He also said that the day Ivan was going to landfall.

[f5]

katrina was a strong cat 5 in gom if i were to use that in a poll it would be at 100% at landfall however it would be more like 60-40 55-45 somewhere along those lines

[OtherHD]

And even though the forecast track didn't reflect the southwest movement across Florida, it was mentioned as a possibility in the discussions based on the GFDL model runs.

Derecho's right -- this is one of the best forecasts made by the NHC ever.

[canegrl04]

The NO Fox channel met was on our local Dallas affiliate this morning.He said Katrina may be upgraded to cat 5 just as Andrew was mainly because the storm suge was so high.In some places higher than Camille.Her pressure definately supported a 5.I think her wind speed was misread by the NHC.

[Hyperstorm]

The NO Fox channel met was on our local Dallas affiliate this morning.He said Katrina may be upgraded to cat 5 just as Andrew was mainly because the storm suge was so high.In some places higher than Camille.Her pressure definately supported a 5.I think her wind speed was misread by the NHC.

I can't believe that people are still debating intensity after all that's been discussed.

It's NOT the pressure that makes the category of the storm, regardless of what some meteorologist named Bastardi says.

Just because a hurricane has a pressure of a certain category does NOT make it that category. Katrina was a LARGE (L-A-R-G-E) hurricane and the pressure gradient (which is what CREATES the winds) was NOT as strong as other hurricanes which have been small in the past.

Opal had a pressure of 915mb in the Gulf of Mexico and did that make it a category 5? No! Heck, I've seen hurricanes with a pressure of 1004-1005mb! Does that make them a weak tropical storm? No!

It's ALL about the winds and how large the hurricane is...