What has changed 20 years on from Hurricane Katrina?
Summary
Hurricane forecasting has greatly improved since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans 20 years ago. Advances in technology, such as satellites and drones, have made predictions more accurate, although forecasting a storm's intensity remains difficult.Key Facts
- Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans 20 years ago, causing nearly 2,000 deaths and over $100 billion in damage.
- It was the deadliest and costliest U.S. natural disaster since 1928.
- The U.S. National Hurricane Center accurately predicted the path of Katrina three days before it hit.
- Technology improvements, including better satellites and the use of drones, have increased forecast accuracy.
- In 2005, satellite images were available every 30 minutes; now they can be as frequent as every 30 seconds during severe weather.
- New data collection from the sea using tools like gliders and floats has improved understanding of hurricanes.
- Forecasting storm intensity remains challenging due to factors like vertical wind shear and atmospheric moisture.
- Communication during weather events is still crucial, as seen in Hurricane Sandy, where accurate forecasts were not clearly communicated to the public.
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