KATRINA HAS BECOME A REAL B****!

Although Hurricane Katrina is no longer a concern for the Florida Panhandle, we're still likely to feel it's effects through showers and thunderstorms today across the Tampa Bay region from her outer bands.

It's now a powerful Catagory 5 storm with highest sustained winds of 160 MPH, making a beeline for the New Orleans metropolitan area...and it could get even stronger. The last time such a powerful hurricane hit the central Gulf Coast was 36 years ago this month, when Camille devestated Mississippi.

The concern for New Orleans is that much of the metro area is below sea level, and has a complex system of pumps, levees, and canals that protect it. However, a storm with the potential punch of Katrina giving the Big Easy a direct hit would be nothing short of catastrophic that could even make Andrew's effect on South Florida look minor in comparision.

I'm still watching it closely, because my home area --- the Pine Belt region of Southeast Mississippi --- would be in the northeast quadrant, traditionally the most devestating part of a hurricane. And the forecast track puts that area close to the centre as it begins a north-to-northeast curve after landfall. I spoke with my sister who lives near Seminary, slightly north of Hattiesburg, and urged her to leave with family ASAP. She lives in a mobile home, but she feels comfortable as it is tied down rather well and on blocks. Not the best place to be during a hurricane, even one which may weaken before getting that far north. I did urge her to at least prepare with nonperishable food, batteries, ice,
and to be ready for several days without power (she lives in a rural area...real country!).

Those of you who are interested in keeping up with the storm should click on WWL-TV 4, New Orleans' CBS affiliate. It is the only station in the area providing live streaming of it's continious coverage of Katrina. WWL has a long tradition of being the best among media outlets when it comes to weather coverage...and of what I've seen, it's upholding it's excellent reputation.