| Margie |
| (Senior Storm Chaser) |
| Fri Aug 26 2005 11:23 PM |
|
Re: Katrina's Forecast Track Shifts West, Northern Gulf Needs to Watch
|
Quote:
how far inland does a 5 do damage?
The Cat 5 winds? Not very far. However flooding can be more of an issue, as the storm surge combined with waves on the east of the eye can drive water quite a ways.
The winds weaken rapidly upon landfall.
The thing that is very different about a Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane is the extremely small area that is prone to almost complete devastation. Even with a Cat 2 direct hit there can be flooding that requires total evacuation, but with a Cat 4 or 5 there is an area that you come home to...nothing. Now 10 or 15 miles down the road, or 3 or 4 miles inland -- no devastation.