Hurricane Katrina facts for kids

Hurricane Katrina was a very powerful and destructive storm that hit the United States in 2005. It was the eleventh tropical storm and the fifth hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23. Two days later, it hit Florida as a Category 1 hurricane.

After crossing Florida, Katrina moved into the Gulf of Mexico and quickly became a super strong Category 5 hurricane. On the morning of August 29, the storm hit Louisiana and Mississippi. The damage was huge, especially in New Orleans, where 80% of the city flooded because the protective walls, called levees, broke. Hurricane Katrina caused many deaths and is known as one of the deadliest and most expensive hurricanes in US history. Its leftover storm clouds finally disappeared over the Great Lakes on August 31.

How Hurricane Katrina Formed and Grew

Storm path

Hurricane Katrina started as a tropical depression, which is a weak storm system, over the southeastern Bahamas on August 23, 2005. The next day, August 24, it grew stronger and became a tropical storm, earning the name Katrina.

Katrina kept moving towards Florida. Just two hours before it reached land near Hallandale Beach on August 25, it became a Category 1 hurricane. This means it had strong winds, but it was not yet at its most powerful.

Katrina's Strength in the Gulf of Mexico

After crossing Florida, Katrina weakened a bit over land. But as it moved into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it quickly gained strength again. On August 27, Hurricane Katrina reached Category 3 strength. This made it a "major hurricane" because its winds were very fast.

At one point, Katrina went through something called an "eyewall replacement cycle." This is when a new, larger eye forms around the old one. This made Katrina stop getting stronger for a short time, but it also made the storm almost twice as big!

Katrina Reaches Peak Power

Katrina continued to get much stronger very quickly. On the morning of August 28, it reached its highest strength as a Category 5 hurricane. Its winds were blowing at an incredible 175 miles per hour (280 km/h). The storm's central pressure dropped to 902 mbar. Lower pressure usually means a stronger storm.

At that time, Katrina was the fourth most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever recorded based on its pressure. Later that season, Hurricanes Rita and Wilma also became very strong. Katrina was also the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico at that time, a record later broken by Hurricane Rita.

Landfall and Weakening

Hurricane Katrina made its second landfall on August 29. It hit near St. Bernard, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane. Its sustained winds were still very strong at 125 miles per hour (205 km/h). The strong hurricane-force winds stretched out 120 miles (190 km) from the center of the storm.

After moving over southeastern Louisiana, Katrina made its third landfall over New Orleans. The city's protective walls, called levees, were not strong enough to hold back the massive amount of water. This led to widespread and severe flooding across New Orleans.

Katrina remained a hurricane as it moved inland into Mississippi. However, it began to weaken as it moved further from the ocean. It finally lost its hurricane strength more than 150 miles (240 km) inland near Meridian, Mississippi. Katrina then weakened to a tropical depression near Clarksville, Tennessee. Its remaining clouds were last seen around the eastern Great Lakes on August 31 before they disappeared.

Hurricane Katrina in Movies

People on the roofs of their houses avoiding the flood

The famous American movie maker Spike Lee created a documentary for HBO called "When The Levees Broke." This movie showed the huge damage in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The documentary explored how the levees might not have been strong enough to handle the storm. It also suggested that the government's help arrived too slowly. Many people who died during the hurricane sadly drowned.

Why the Name Katrina Was Retired

The name Katrina was officially "retired." This means that because of the record-breaking damage, the many deaths, and the huge cost it caused, the name Katrina will never be used again for any new storms in the future. A new name, Katia, was chosen to replace it for the 2011 hurricane season.

Other Interesting Pages

• 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
• Hurricane Rita
• Meteorological history of Hurricane Katrina
• Hurricane Katrina tornado outbreak
• National Weather Service bulletin for New Orleans region
• List of hurricanes in Florida

Images for kids

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  Katrina on August 28, nearing the Gulf Coast.

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  Radar loop of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Louisiana.

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  A drawing showing the height of New Orleans, with levees up to 23 feet.

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  Damage to a mobile home in Davie, Florida after Hurricane Katrina.

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  Flooding in Venice, Louisiana.

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  A fallen water tower in Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, where Katrina first hit.

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  Flooded roads and areas in northwest New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana.

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  A U.S. Coast Guardsman looking for people needing rescue in New Orleans after Katrina.

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  The U.S. Route 90 bridge in Bay St. Louis was destroyed by Katrina.

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  Damage in Long Beach, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

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  Damage from the storm surge in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

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  Flood waters reaching the steps of Mobile's federal courthouse.

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  Bayou La Batre: a cargo ship and fishing boats pushed onto land.

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  Total rainfall from Katrina in the United States.

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  The Chandeleur Islands, before Katrina (left) and after (right), showing the storm's impact.

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  U.S. Army Infantry patrolling in New Orleans in an area that was flooded.

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  A Border Patrol team searching a hotel room in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

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  Volunteers from AmeriCorps helping in New Orleans in January 2006.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Katrina para niños