Katrina is located within an atmospheric environment that seemingly
cannot get much more conducive for strengthening... primarily due
to a very large upper-level anticyclone over the entire Gulf of
Mexico.  Not surprisingly... upper-level outflow from the hurricane
continues to become more established.  This weak wind shear
environment is forecast by the dynamical models to persist for
about the next three days until an upper-level trough moves into
Texas from the west.  Therefore shear could begin to increase over
the hurricane near the time it makes landfall on the
northern Gulf Coast... but it seems that will be too late to
prevent Katrina from maintaining major hurricane status at
landfall.  The SHIPS guidance now shows strengthening to 123 kt...
and the official forecast now peaks at 120 kt over the northern
Gulf within the next couple of days.