What has changed 20 years on from Hurricane Katrina?

August 29, 2025

Over the past 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, hurricane forecasting has improved dramatically through technological advances and enhanced data collection methods. Modern forecasting now utilizes more frequent satellite imagery (every 10 minutes versus every 30 minutes in 2005), unmanned drones, ocean data from gliders and floats, and more powerful computing capabilities. These improvements have reduced the average tracking error in 48-hour forecasts by approximately 50 percent since 2005, though accurately predicting storm intensity remains challenging due to factors like vertical wind shear and atmospheric moisture.

Who is affected

Residents in hurricane-prone areas, particularly coastal communities
The city of New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents
New York City residents (44 deaths during Hurricane Sandy)
Nearly 2,000 people who lost their lives during Katrina
Owners of approximately 300,000 homes destroyed or made uninhabitable by Katrina
Property owners who suffered from the $100 billion in damage from Katrina

What action is being taken

Satellites are now capturing imagery every 10 minutes (and as frequently as every 30 seconds during severe weather)
Unmanned drones are being used to research and improve hurricane science
Ocean data is being collected by gliders, floats, and drifters to provide information about the boundary layer
Computer models are incorporating forecast errors from the previous five years
Wireless Emergency Alerts including hurricane warnings are being sent directly to mobile devices
The National Hurricane Center is issuing storm surge warning graphics (since 2017)

Why it matters

More accurate forecasting can save lives and reduce property damage
Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest hurricane since 1928 and the costliest natural disaster recorded in U.S. history
Water from storm surge, not wind, is the greatest threat to life during hurricanes
Climate change is intensifying hurricanes, with Katrina's maximum sustained wind speed increased by 5mph due to climate change
Future hurricanes are expected to be more powerful with greater rainfall and coastal flooding risks as the atmosphere and sea temperatures continue to warm
Effective communication of forecasts is crucial for proper evacuation and emergency response

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article, though there is a suggestion that the Saffir-Simpson Scale might need to be updated again to add a Category 6 storm classification.

Read full article from source: BBC