2AM Update
Katrina is now a category 4 hurricane with winds of 145mph. The official forecast now brings it in as a 150mph hurricane within the next 36-48hr; intensity fluctuations may result in the intensity being slightly higher or lower and there is the serious potential for this to make landfall as a category 5 hurricane, just the fourth such landfalling storm in recorded US history.

Note that many in the SE US can keep track of the situation by tuning in to AM 870 (WWL) out of New Orleans this evening. Those in the impact zone can use it to find out the latest information on the storm and evacuation routes as they head out of town, while those out of the area can use it to follow how the region is preparing for the storm.

10:45PM
A Hurricane Warning is now up between Morgan City, LA and the FL/Alabama Border. The forecast track remains very similar to the last one, crossing over the Southeastern coast of Louisiana.

Anyone in the warning area needs to prepare for this storm.
This is not another storm like Dennis and is instead more akin to some of the memorable hurricanes of our generation.

Clark Evans has more in his blog, accessible below or in the "Met Blogs" section of the page.

Presentation on Satellite shows a very symettrical storm, the pressure has lowered, and Dvorak T-Numbers support a strengthening system. It is still forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 storm.

For discussion on other developing Atlantic Systems (90L) go to this link.

(We and Skeetobite are looking for feedback on maps, let us know here)

Original Update

The New Orleans area and nearby is the most likely area for Katrina to make landfall.

It is forecast to make landfall near New Orleans as a Category 4 hurricane, and the National Hurricane Center mentions the possibility of a Category 5.

The track has not changed much actually a little west of the prior track. All areas within the cone need to continue to watch the storm.

The storm has maintained Category 3 status all day, as it was going through an eyewall replacement cycle that kept it there or just weaker all day. As the night rolls on it has another chance to strengthen.

Event Related Links
General Links
Report Katrina conditions in your area/read other's reports at this link (registration not required).

Color Sat of Gulf
RAMSDIS high speed visible Floater of Storms

Emergency Management/County info
Gulf Coast Storm Alert Network
FloridaDisaster.org - Florida Emergency Management

Panhandle Coastal Counties West to East
Escambia County, FL, Santa Rosa, County, Okaloosa County, FL,
Walton County, FL,
Bay County, FL, Gulf County, FL, Franklin County, FL
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
http://www.msema.org/index.htm
State of Florida Division of Emergency Management/floridadisaster.org
Louisiana Emergency Management

Video/Audio Links
NOAA Weather Radio out of New Orleans
Hurricane City - Live Audio
HurricaneTrack/Mark Sudduth HIRT Team
New Orleans Webcams
New Orleans Traffic Cams

Television/Radio
WWL TV 4 (CBS Affiliate in New Orleans)
ABC 26 TV (ABC Affiliate in New Orleans)
WDSU Channel 6 (NBC Affiliate New Orleans)
Fox 8 (New Orleans)
WTIX 690 News Radio
WWL 870 News Radio

Hurricane Now - Video reports from former CNN hurrican reporter Jeff Flock
Weathervine.com Storm Chasing
Joseph Johnston's Mobile Bay Webcam
WKRG 5 in Mobile/Pensacola
WPMI Channel 15 from Mobile Alabama

Other
NOLA - Everything New Orleans

-- Looking for more Video/Audio links for the approach areas let us know!

Katrina

Google Map plot of Katrina

Visible Floater Satellite of Katrina
Water Vapor Floater of Katrina
Visible Satellite Floater of Katrina with storm track overlays
Animated model plots of Katrina
Spaghetti Model Plot of Katrina from Colorado State

Florida Keys Long Range Radar Loop
Mobile, AL Long Range Radar
New Orleans, LA Long Range Radar

Forecast Discussions for (Show All Locations):
Miami, Key West, New Orleans, Mobile

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NRL-Monterey Satellite Data on 97L
METEOSAT-8 imagery over Europe & Africa from the Univ. of Wisconsin
Animated model plots of 97L

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