Hurricane Katrina turned slightly eastward before slamming into shore redirecting the storm's most potent winds and rain away fr

Hurricane Katrina turned slightly eastward before slamming into shore redirecting the storm's most potent winds and rain away from the vulnerable, low lying New Orleans area. Katrina weakened slightly overnight to a Category 4 storm and her eastward movement put the western eyewall - the weaker side of the strongest winds - over New Orleans. This doesn't mean New Orleans has been spared her wrath completely, the city is still getting hit with 145 mph winds today and the possibility of a 20 foot storm surge. Katrina, which cut across Florida last week leaving nine dead and massive damage, had intensified into a Category 5 storm over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, reaching top winds of 175 mph before weakening as it neared the coast. A hurricane warning is in effect for the north-central Gulf Coast from Morgan City, La., to the Alabama-Florida line. Tornado warnings were posted for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. . Credit: Credit: NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team Updated August 29, 2005 8:20 a.m. EDT