Changes

==The tropical cyclone==

==The tropical cyclone==

[[File:President Casino Barge After Katrina PD WC.jpg|300px|left|A Barge was washed ashore after Katrina|left]]

[[File:President Casino Barge After Katrina PD WC.jpg|300px|left|A Barge was washed ashore after Katrina|left]]

Hurricane Katrina developed initially as a tropical depression (TD #12 of the season) over the southeastern [[Bahamas]] on August 23. This tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Katrina the following day. It then moved slowly along a northwesterly and then then westerly track through the Bahamas, increasing in strength during this time within favorable conditions. A few hours before landfall in South Florida at around 6:30 EDT on August 25, Katrina strengthened to become a Category 1 (wind speeds of 75 mph or greater) hurricane. Landfall occurred between Hallandale Beach and North [[Miami]] Beach, [[Florida]], with wind speeds of approximately 80 mph (70 kts). Gusts of above 90 mph (78 kts) were measured as Katrina came ashore. As the storm moved southwest across the tip of the Florida peninsula, Katrina's winds decreased slightly before regaining hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico. Given that Katrina spent only seven hours over land, its strength was not significantly diminished and it quickly re-intensified shortly after moving over the warm waters of the Gulf.  

Hurricane Katrina developed initially as a tropical depression (TD #12 of the season) over the southeastern [[Bahamas]] on August 23. This tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Katrina the following day. It then moved slowly along a northwesterly and then a westerly track through the Bahamas, increasing in strength during this time within favorable conditions. A few hours before landfall in South Florida at around 6:30 EDT on August 25, Katrina strengthened to become a Category 1 (wind speeds of 75 mph or greater) hurricane. Landfall occurred between Hallandale Beach and North [[Miami]] Beach, [[Florida]], with wind speeds of approximately 80 mph (70 kts). Gusts of above 90 mph (78 kts) were measured as Katrina came ashore. As the storm moved southwest across the tip of the Florida peninsula, Katrina's winds decreased slightly before regaining hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico. Given that Katrina spent only seven hours over land, its strength was not significantly diminished and it 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 (an upper level anticyclone over the Gulf and warm SSTs) were conducive to cyclone's rapid intensification, which lead to Katrina attaining 'major hurricane' status on the afternoon of the 26th.

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 (an upper level anticyclone over the Gulf and warm SSTs) were conducive to cyclone's rapid intensification, which lead to Katrina attaining 'major hurricane' status on the afternoon of the 26th.