How has hurricane forecasting advanced since Katrina?

It was 10 years ago this month that Hurricane Katrina slammed into the United States. 5 live weather presenter Simon King visited Miami to see how hurricane forecasting has advanced.

Florida International University is home to the 'Wall of Wind': 12 huge fans that can recreate a Category 5 hurricane. The 12 fans that make up the wall of wind stand two stories high, each six foot in diameter and can create wind speeds of 157 miles per hour.

Erik Salna is Associate Director and Meteorologist at the University, and showed Simon around.

They suck air in, contract it and push it out into the ‘big box’ - a space behind the fans in which, hurricane conditions are replicated and can be tested on buildings and other structures. Water can be added to create ‘rain’ and the effects of a hurricane on buildings can be tested.

“What Mother Nature does in the real world, we have taken into the research world” he said.

Nearly 2,000 people died, 300,000 homes were destroyed, an area of land similar to the size of the UK was damaged, and it cost the U.S an estimated $125-150billion: Katrina was the most costly hurricane ever to hit the U.S.

This clip was broadcast as part of 'Hurricane Katrina: 10 years on', on Sunday 30th August 2015

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