Hurricane Katrina (High Quality) - Coral Gables, Florida - August 25, 2005

Between August 23rd and 30th, 2005 Hurricane Katrina, became the 11th named storm, fifth hurricane, third major hurricane and second Category Five hurricane of the record-shattering 2005 season. Katrina also has the infamous distinction of being both the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the top five deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

On August 23rd an area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave became better organized over the western Bahamas and was classified Tropical Depression 12, while moving west-northwest towards the Florida east coast. The following morning, the depression reached Tropical Storm strength and was named Katrina. Turning towards the west, the storm began to intensify steadily and reached hurricane strength a few hours prior to reaching the Florida coast.

Katrina made landfall at Golden Beach, Florida (near Miami) as a minimal Category One hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (70kts) and a minimum central pressure of 984 mb (29.06 in).

From the evening of August 25th through the early morning hours of the 26th, storm chaser Michael Laca intercepted Hurricane Katrina at Coral Gables, Florida. At my location I encountered sustained winds near 80 mph (70 kts) with peak gusts near 100 mph (85 kts).

Hurricane Katrina produced minimal hurricane condtions across portions of the extreme southern Florida peninsula (from Ft. Lauderdale southward through southern Miami-Dade county), with tropical storm conditions elsewhere across the region and through the Florida Keys. The highest officially reported winds in southeast Florida during Katrina's passage were 73 mph (63 kts) with a peak gust of 93 mph (81 kts) at Virginia Key (just south of Miami); 70 mph (60 kts) with a peak gust of 88 mph (76 kts) at the Miami WSFO (near Sweetwater) and 60 mph (52 kts) with a peak gust of 82 mph (71 kts) at Fort Lauderdale. Unofficial wind readings include a peak gust of 92 mph (80 kts) at Port Everglades and 97 mph (84 kts) at the Homestead General Airport. The lowest pressures observed in South Florida were 983 mb (29.02 in) from the Miami WSFO and 988 mb (29.17 in) at AOML on Virginia Key. Katrina also produced exceptionally heavy rainfall over southern Miami-Dade county with several locations reporting storm totals between 10-15 inches.

After passing South Florida, Katrina emerged into a very favorable environment over the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened rapidly. By the afternoon of August 28th, Katrina reached its peak intensity with a central pressure of 902 mb (26.64 in) and maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (150 kts). In addition the hurricane's windfield expanded significantly, nearly doubling in size. After reaching peak intensity, Katrina began to turn towards the north and gradually weaken as it neared landfall across the northern Gulf.

On the morning of August 29th, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana as a high-end Category Three with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (110 kts) and a minimum central pressure of 920 mb (27.17in). A few hours later, the hurricane made its final landfall near the mouth of the Pearl River, on the Mississippi/Louisiana border with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (105 kts) and a minimum pressure of 928 mb (27.40).

Although the hurricane weakened significantly prior to landfall the storm's very large windfield, along with the perpendicular approach, and the bathymetry of the northern Gulf coast combined to produce an extremely high storm surge on the east side of the hurricane. Values between 24 - 28 ft (7 - 8.5 m) were observed, devastating virtually all of the vulnerable low-lying Mississippi coastline and sweeping many locations completely clean. On the west side of the storm, the high surge values also resulted in the overtopping, and subsequent failure, of several levees within the New Orleans area, releasing massive flooding in numerous low-lying communities.

Hurricane Katrina's combined impacts across the affected areas, resulted in a staggering 1,836 direct fatalities (the highest death toll from a U.S. hurricane since the Lake Okeechobee storm of 1928) and $90.1 billion (adjusted) in damage, making Katrina the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

After moving inland, Katrina maintained hurricane strength for nearly 150 miles (240 KM) inland. The storm was eventually absorbed into a frontal boundary over the eastern Great Lakes on September 31st.

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[SevereStormsMax9]

Where did you record from? Strong structure building? Car?

[vmax135]

@SevereStormsMax9 Hi Max. This video was shot from my apartment's balcony or window (depending on the shot). The building is a very sturdy multi-story complex and my unit faced northeast and east. At the end of the clip, there are also some damage scenes I took while walking around outside the morning after the storm had passed.

[mainchow10]

If there was a tropical storm/hurricane affecting land this year, would you record it? Tropical Storm Alex just passed over Belize but I cannot find any videos uploaded by you.

[vmax135]

@mainchow10 I will definitely be chasing any significant landfalling tropical cyclones this year... that said, Alex wasn't strong enough at landfall in Belize to warrant the travel expense. It is possible that, if the storm becomes a significant hurricane over the western Gulf of Mexico, that I would chase in Texas.

[rogeressig]

amazing

[vmax135]

@rogeressig Thanks so much!!!

[MrShanfara]

this is a monster Hurricane that's like a movie !!!

[alex04titanic]

my friend survived Hurricane Katrina in a hotel in florida

[TylerTristar2]

That's awful watch out! man

[8477384773]

my family lives in Miami, Florida and i live in Kansascity, Missouri when ever i go there they tell me about Wilma and Katrina next time they have a hurricane in 2011 we where going to experience this with them. Know for the question what category hurricane would be the safest yet coolest. Please respond.

[1Sebas9]

holy crap o_o awesome THUMBS UP!

[Gary7Gann]

You may thank the pimp police, they boast about how they have a licence to kill,if you don't like RETRIBUTION talk to the GUILTY that did 911 call 911 !!!

[jon76398]

does miami get alot of hurricanes or coral gabels is it a safe place to live

[tudssquadbuisness]

Such an eerie silience when it's over.

[mangoandbanana]

I could watch this stuff for ages. I love how everyone seems to be driving around not long after the hurricane finishes. Here in England, everyone would need therapy or treatment for emotional trauma after a storm like that.