<P> The storm originated over the Bahamas on August 23 , 2005 , from the merger of a tropical wave and the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten . Early on the following day , the new tropical depression intensified into a tropical storm and headed generally westward toward Florida , strengthening into a hurricane only two hours before making landfall at Hallandale Beach and Aventura on August 25 . After very briefly weakening again to a tropical storm , Katrina emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on August 26 and began to rapidly intensify . The storm strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane over the warm waters of the Gulf , but weakened before making its second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on August 29 , over southeast Louisiana and Mississippi . As Katrina made landfall , its front right quadrant , which held the strongest winds , slammed into Gulfport , Mississippi , devastating it . </P>
<P> The storm originated over the Bahamas on August 23 , 2005 , from the merger of a tropical wave and the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten . Early on the following day , the new tropical depression intensified into a tropical storm and headed generally westward toward Florida , strengthening into a hurricane only two hours before making landfall at Hallandale Beach and Aventura on August 25 . After very briefly weakening again to a tropical storm , Katrina emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on August 26 and began to rapidly intensify . The storm strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane over the warm waters of the Gulf , but weakened before making its second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on August 29 , over southeast Louisiana and Mississippi . As Katrina made landfall , its front right quadrant , which held the strongest winds , slammed into Gulfport , Mississippi , devastating it . </P>
how strong was hurricane katrina when it hit
how strong was hurricane katrina when it hit
a Category 3 hurricane
a Category 3 hurricane