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Hurricane Katrina Advisory Number 23 Statement as of 10:00 am CDT on August 28, 2005 ...Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Katrina...even stronger...headed for the northern Gulf Coast... A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the north central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border...including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida...and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass Florida...and from Intracoastal City Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana. For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. At 10 am CDT...1500z...the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 26.0 north... longitude 88.1 west or about 225 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph...and a turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected over the next 24 hours.

Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 175 mph...with higher gusts.

Katrina is a potentially catastrophic category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. The Air Force hurricane hunter plane recently measured a minimum central pressure of 907 mb...26.78 inches. Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels...locally as high as 28 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves...can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches...with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches...are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the Tennessee Valley. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region Tuesday and Wednesday. Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning this evening over southern portions of Louisiana...Mississippi...and Alabama...and over the Florida Panhandle. Repeating the 10 am CDT position...26.0 N... 88.1 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 175 mph. Minimum central pressure... 907 mb. An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1 PM CDT followed by the next complete advisory at 4 PM CDT. Forecaster Pasch $$