Hurricane Katrina reached Category 5 status at its peak on August 28, 2005, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), making it one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record
. However, when it made landfall near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, on August 29, 2005, it was a strong Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds around 125 mph (201 km/h)
. It maintained Category 3 intensity during its subsequent landfalls along the Gulf Coast, including in Mississippi
. In summary:
- Peak intensity: Category 5 hurricane (175 mph winds)
- Landfall intensity: Category 3 hurricane (around 125 mph winds)
This distinction is important as the storm weakened from Category 5 to Category 3 before making landfall, but the levees in New Orleans were designed for Category 3 storms, while Katrina had been a Category 5 at peak intensity
