Contact: Brian McNoldy
bmcnoldy@rsmas.miami.edu
305-421-4272
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science

Katrina v. Isaac

Caption: As the Gulf coast prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, researchers at the University of Miami are comparing the oncoming storm to Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest and costliest of hurricanes in the nation's history. Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Senior Research Assistant Brian McNoldy and Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Professor Sharan Majumdar are tracking the two cyclones side by side. They note that Hurricane Isaac (bottom image) appears to be less organized, reaching wind speeds of 75 mph on Aug. 28. It was the first time that it reached hurricane intensity during its entire 12-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Just hours from landfall, and just hours from the exact landfall time of Hurricane Katrina (top image) seven years ago. "Rainfall totals along the northern Gulf coast are expected to be in the 12-18" range, and the storm surge could be significant between the center of the storm and places for hundreds of miles east of the center as its circulation pushes the ocean out ahead of it and onto the coastline," says McNoldy.

Credit: Brian McNoldy, RSMAS

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