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[[Image:NOAA-Hurricane-Katrina-Aug28-05.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hurricane Katrina, on August 28, 2005]]

[[Image:NOAA-Hurricane-Katrina-Aug28-05.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hurricane Katrina, on August 28, 2005]]

'''Hurricane Katrina''' in August 2005 was one of the strongest and most devastating storms to impact the coast of the [[United States]] during the last 100 years. With sustained winds during landfall of 125 mph (110 kts) (a strong category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) and minimum central pressure the third lowest on record in the United States at landfall (920 mb), Katrina caused widespread devastation along the central Gulf Coast states of the U.S., with the cities of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mobile]], [[Alabama]], and Gulfport, [[Mississippi]] bearing the brunt of Katrina's force, which caused $81.2 billion in damage.  

'''Hurricane Katrina''' in August 2005 was one of the strongest and most devastating storms to impact the coast of the [[United States]] during the last 100 years. With sustained winds during landfall of 125 mph (110 kts) (a strong category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) and minimum central pressure the third lowest on record in the United States at landfall (920 mb), Katrina caused widespread devastation along the central Gulf Coast states of the U.S., with the cities of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mobile]], [[Alabama]], and Gulfport, [[Mississippi]] bearing the brunt of Katrina's force, which caused $81.2 billion in damage.  

==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 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.  

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.