LYNN TECH MATHEMATICS SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Hurricane Katrina
Materials:

Hurricane Katrina Tracking Information

Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart

Pencil

Ruler
Objective:
Students will practice using coordinate systems by plotting latitude and longitude coordinates in
order to determine the path of Hurricane Katrina.
Procedure:
1. Plot the position of the storm for each date on the Hurricane Tracking Map using the data in the
table. Place one finger (or ruler) on the longitude (North-South) coordinate and one finger (or
ruler) on the latitude (East-West) coordinate and find where the coordinates intersect. Mark this
point with a pencil. Try to be as accurate as possible if the coordinates are in between the lines of
latitude and longitude.
2. After all points are plotted, connect the points with a line to indicate the hurricane’s path.
3. Answer the analysis questions about Hurricane Katrina using the data in the table and the
tracking map.
Hurricane Katrina Tracking Information
Date
8/23/05
8/24/05
8/24/05
8/25/05
8/25/05
8/26/05
8/26/05
8/27/05
8/27/05
8/28/05
8/28/05
8/29/05
8/29/05
8/30/05
8/30/05
8/31/05
8/31/05
Latitude
23.1°N
23.4°N
24.5°N
26.0°N
26.2°N
25.9°N
25.1°N
24.6°N
24.4°N
24.8°N
25.7°N
27.2°N
29.5°N
32.6°N
35.6°N
38.6°N
40.1°N
Longitude
75.1°W
75.7°W
76.5°W
77.7°W
79.0°W
80.3°W
82.0°W
83.3°W
84.7°W
85.9°W
87.7°W
89.2°W
89.6°W
89.1°W
88.0°W
85.3°W
82.9°W
Wind Speed (mph)
35
35
40
50
65
80
85
105
115
115
165
160
125
60
35
35
30
Storm Type
Tropical Depression
Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Tropical Storm
Tropical Storm
Category 1 Hurricane
Category 1 Hurricane
Category 2 Hurricane
Category 3 Hurricane
Category 3 Hurricane
Category 5 Hurricane
Category 5 Hurricane
Category 3 Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Tropical Depression
Extratropical Storm
Extratropical Storm
Hurricane Analysis
1. Using your tracking map, in which state did Katrina make landfall first?
State:_________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Using the data in the table, find the mean, median, mode, and range of the wind speeds,
in miles per hour, for the storm? If necessary, round your answer to the nearest
hundredth.
Mean:_________________________
Median:_________________________
Mode: _________________________
Range: _________________________
3. Identify the wind speed and storm type when Katrina reached New Orleans. (Use the
point that is closest to New Orleans.)
Wind Speed: _________________________
Storm Type:_________________________