4:00 am August 29, 2005: NHC Advisory: Extremely Dangerous Katrina Lashes Northern Gulf Coast

The National Hurricane’s 4:00 am advisory warns that Katrina, now a very strong Category 4 hurricane, remains very large, is extremely dangerous, and is nearing landfall. Tropical storm-force winds are already lashing the Gulf Coast from Southeastern Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border. A buoy located 50 miles east of the Mississippi River has reported waves as high as 46 feet already. Storm surge flooding will be 18-22 feet above normal, with increased surge to 28 feet in some areas, and levees in the greater New Orleans area may be overtopped. Although it appears that Katrina will make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane later this morning, the NHC warns that “just because Katrina is no longer a category 5 hurricane does not mean that extensive damage and storm surge flooding will not occur. This is still an extremely dangerous and potentially deadly hurricane!” Other aspects of the NHC Advisory include:
Location: 90 miles south-southeast of New Orleans; about 120 miles south-southwest of Biloxi Mississippi
Direction and Speed: North at near 15 mph
Maximum Sustained Winds: 150 mph with higher gusts
Estimated Central Pressure: 915 mb
Size: hurricane winds extend 105 miles from the center; tropical storm force winds extend 230 miles [National Hurricane Center, 8/29/2005]