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Hurricane Katrina: Twenty Years Later

August 28, 2025
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Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi coast. It was one of the deadliest hurricanes on record and remains the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was record-breaking, with 27 named storms, 14 hurricanes, and three Category 5 storms. That record remained until 2020, when 30 named storms developed. 

Learn how NOAA satellites tracked Katrina then, and how today’s advanced satellites provide even greater insight into these powerful storms.