Breaking News! Katrina now a 145 mph Category 4!

[krysof]

Special statement to be released to increase Katrina to Category 4 hurricane.

[CYCLONE MIKE]

I am also worried about the current movement!

[dhweather]

Jim freakin' Dandy.

[krysof]

000
WTNT62 KNHC 280541
TCUAT2
HURRICANE KATRINA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1240 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005


...SHORTLY AFTER 1215 AM CDT... 0515Z... AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS IN HURRICANE KATRINA
HAD INCREASED TO NEAR 145 MPH... CATEGORY FOUR ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. DETAILS WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY IN A
SPECIAL ADVISORY TO BE ISSUED AT APPROXIMATELY 1 AM CDT...0600Z.
THE SPECIAL PUBLIC ADVISORY WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF THE INTERMEDIATE
PUBLIC ADVISORY PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FOR THAT TIME.

FORECASTER KNABB

$$

[CYCLONE MIKE]

We knew it was coming, but it is still shocking when you see it.

[simplykristi]

OMG I am shocked. I was not expecting cat 4 status til later this morning.

Kristi

[krysof]

Katrina is now extremely dangerous.

[Stratosphere747]

I'm not so sure if this is a good thing...Let it peak now before it nears the coast.

Simply amazing though!!!

[Mello1]

From 115 to 145.... Lawd.

[soonertwister]

I'm really afraid that this storm is going to 5, and it may get significantly above minimal (that's an oxymoron, folks) category 5 status, even as high as 150 knots OR HIGHER.

[Foladar]

From 115 to 145.... Lawd.

in a little over two hours nonetheless.

[Steve]

You could see that explosion around dusk. It's not a surprise to me. I thought it had that Cat 4 look to it (especially on the U N CAR's RGB infrared loop). I wonder what happens if she crosses that super hot deep water pocket tomorrow? 160? 165? Man, this could be far worse than I even expected for whoever gets hit and all of their neigbors 100 miles in each direction.

Steve

[Mello1]

From 115 to 145.... Lawd.

in a little over two hours nonetheless.

And this storm has plenty of time to go higher... Where are the amateur experts when you need them????

[Swimdude]

Names are forming in my head...

Camille...

Hugo...

Could this be the 3rd cat. 5 to hit the US in recorded history..?

[Foladar]

From 115 to 145.... Lawd.

in a little over two hours nonetheless.

And this storm has plenty of time to go higher... Where are the amateur experts when you need them????

And it had plenty of time previously as well to go higher (such as off the Florida coast, very thankful it didn't)

[ConvergenceZone]

This is absolutely unbelievable!! I did NOT expect this. 30 mph in 3 hours??? Kudos to those who called for the Cat 4 tonight!!.... I'm eating crow because I just didn't see it. Someone said the winds would catch up to the pressure, guess he was right.

[Stratosphere747]

Kudos as well to those that had a good idea on the "true" direction of Kat...

Per the latest plots, she is not moving NW...Almost seems like she is back to a just N or west motion?

[gpickett00]

big deal...

[CYCLONE MIKE]

Now we really have the true nightmare situation unfolding. The media will be all over this tomorrow morning on TV.I sure as hell hope everyone in SE LA leaves if they can. If not get your butts in a shelter!!! That includes you to, STEVE!!! No one has any business staying in that part of the state.

[Ixolib]

Names are forming in my head...

Camille...

Hugo...

Could this be the 3rd cat. 5 to hit the US in recorded history..?

And the second of which to hit in almost the same area - if not the EXACT area!!