7:00 am August 28, 2005: NHC Special Advisory: Katrina Now a Category 5 Hurricane; Potentially Catastrophic

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Katrina is now a “potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane” and is headed for the Northern Gulf Coast. Although the NHC cannot predict the exact strength at landfall, Katrina is “expected to be a devastating Category 4 or 5 hurricane at landfall.” The NHC forecasts coastal storm surge flooding 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, with higher surges of up to 25 feet, as well as large and dangerous battering waves near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Other aspects of the NHC Advisory include:
Location: 250 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River
Direction and Speed: West-northwest at 12 mph
Maximum Sustained Winds: Near 160 mph, with higher gusts
Estimated Central Pressure: 908 mb [National Hurricane Center, 8/28/2005; National Hurricane Center, 8/28/2005]