Commemorating Katrina's 20th Anniversary: The Impact of the Hurricane on Weather Predictions
In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a storm of unprecedented power, began as a tropical depression in the Bahamas. As it made its way towards the Gulf of Mexico, the meteorologist Johnston, who now serves as the chief meteorologist at WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama, was preparing for a broadcast.
At the time, Johnston was working at WTOK in Meridian, Mississippi. The station had one weather computer, one dimly lit studio powered by one generator. Communication with other meteorologists happened through Yahoo Messenger, a far cry from the real-time updates we have come to expect during natural disasters today.
By Aug. 28, Hurricane Katrina had reached Category 5 strength with winds of 175 miles per hour and a central pressure of 902 millibars. The storm surge, up to 28 feet in some areas, obliterated communities along the Mississippi coast and set the stage for the levee failures in New Orleans.
In the days that followed, Hurricane Katrina became a Category 1 storm and crossed southern Florida. Within 48 hours, it had made its final landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. In total, the hurricane caused more than 1,800 deaths, displaced over a million people, and left behind an estimated $125 billion in damage.
During one of the broadcasts, a woman at a local bar asked Johnston if Hurricane Katrina would be as bad as forecasted, as she and her family had survived Hurricane Camille in 1969. Johnston, knowing the devastation the storm could bring, responded by asking if she wanted to see her family again.
The woman hugged Johnston months later, thanking him, as her family's home had been reduced to a slab. This experience taught Johnston the importance of translating data into human terms for effective communication.
Today, Johnston continues to work in the field, emphasising that the focus of their work is about people, not just weather. Responsible forecasting and communicating appropriate risks are critical, especially for situations like Hurricane Katrina, when people must take life-saving measures. Johnston now works with customers in various industries to help them be weather resilient for faster, smarter decisions.
Hurricane Katrina was a collision of natural power, human vulnerability, and systemic failure. As we reflect on its impact, we are reminded of the importance of accurate weather forecasting and effective communication in the face of such devastating events.
