The storm continued to organize and grow, reaching hurricane status later that same day on August 23. Category 5 175 mph August 29, 2005 6:10 a.
Hurricane Katrina Formation Date Facts
At this stage, the system was located roughly 350 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, possessing sustained winds of only 35 mph. Sea surface temperatures were running nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit above average, providing the thermal energy necessary for the storm to escalate from a tropical cyclone into a Category 5 hurricane.
From Depression to Hurricane: Rapid Intensification What distinguished Katrina from many other tropical systems was its extraordinary rate of intensification. Meteorologists observed a phenomenon known as "rapid intensification" as Katrina moved over the warm Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico, with its winds increasing by 35 mph in a mere 24-hour period.
Hurricane Katrina Formation Date Facts
However, the critical ingredient was the abnormally warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Daylight Time on August 23, 2005.
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