I was doing research on Katrina and came across this info from the NOAA Data Bouy site. 105' seas tend to ruin your day.
Figure 7: Station 42040: Significant Wave Height and Dominant Period
Station 42040, located at 29В°11'03"N 88В°12'48"W approximately 64 nautical miles south of Dauphin Island Alabama, reported a significant wave height of 16.91 meters (55.5 feet) at 1100 UTC, August 29, 2005. Station 42040 is a 3-meter diameter discus hull buoy deployed and operated by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). Although 42040 does not measure maximum wave heights, the maximum wave height may be statistically approximated by 1.9 times the significant wave height (World Meteorological Organization, 1998), which would be 32.1 meters (105 feet). At the time of the report, Hurricane Katrina was approximately 73 nautical miles to the west of 42040 with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (Public Advisory 26A issued by the National Hurricane Center). In addition to the 55-foot report, 42040 reported seas 12 feet or greater for 47 consecutive hours.
The 55-foot report surpasses the previous highest significant wave height reported by an NDBC buoy in the Gulf of Mexico of 15.96 meters (52 feet), also reported by 42040 during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, and matches the previous highest significant wave height reported by an NDBC buoy of 16.91 meters reported by station 46003 (in the Northeast Pacific Ocean south of the Aleutian Islands) in January 1991.
References:
Public Advisory 26A is available at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al122005.public_a.026.shtml
World Meteorological Organization, 1998. Guide to Wave Analysis and Forecasting (2nd Edition), WMO No-702, Geneva, p10.
Event Reported Value Date/Time of Event
Lowest Sea-Level Pressure (BARO1) 979.3 mbs 08/29 1000 - 1200Z
Maximum 10-minute Wind Speed (CWS) 28.2 m/s 08/29 1000Z
Maximum 5-s Gust (MXGT1) 37.4 m/s 08/29 1008Z
Maximum Significant Wave Height (WVHGT) 16.91 m 08/29 1100Z
CPA Bearing and Distance To Hurricane 267В°/73 nm 08/29 1100Z
Link to Station Page: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=42040
Figure 7: Station 42040: Significant Wave Height and Dominant Period
Station 42040, located at 29В°11'03"N 88В°12'48"W approximately 64 nautical miles south of Dauphin Island Alabama, reported a significant wave height of 16.91 meters (55.5 feet) at 1100 UTC, August 29, 2005. Station 42040 is a 3-meter diameter discus hull buoy deployed and operated by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). Although 42040 does not measure maximum wave heights, the maximum wave height may be statistically approximated by 1.9 times the significant wave height (World Meteorological Organization, 1998), which would be 32.1 meters (105 feet). At the time of the report, Hurricane Katrina was approximately 73 nautical miles to the west of 42040 with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (Public Advisory 26A issued by the National Hurricane Center). In addition to the 55-foot report, 42040 reported seas 12 feet or greater for 47 consecutive hours.
The 55-foot report surpasses the previous highest significant wave height reported by an NDBC buoy in the Gulf of Mexico of 15.96 meters (52 feet), also reported by 42040 during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, and matches the previous highest significant wave height reported by an NDBC buoy of 16.91 meters reported by station 46003 (in the Northeast Pacific Ocean south of the Aleutian Islands) in January 1991.
References:
Public Advisory 26A is available at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al122005.public_a.026.shtml
World Meteorological Organization, 1998. Guide to Wave Analysis and Forecasting (2nd Edition), WMO No-702, Geneva, p10.
Event Reported Value Date/Time of Event
Lowest Sea-Level Pressure (BARO1) 979.3 mbs 08/29 1000 - 1200Z
Maximum 10-minute Wind Speed (CWS) 28.2 m/s 08/29 1000Z
Maximum 5-s Gust (MXGT1) 37.4 m/s 08/29 1008Z
Maximum Significant Wave Height (WVHGT) 16.91 m 08/29 1100Z
CPA Bearing and Distance To Hurricane 267В°/73 nm 08/29 1100Z
Link to Station Page: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=42040