Hurricane Wilma - Storm Upgraded

[Dark Knight]

MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Wilma has strengthened into a Category 4
hurricane with top sustained winds near 150 mph.

 

[Buzz Mills]

HURRICANE WILMA SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 15
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1 AM EDT WED OCT 19 2005

...AIR FORCE PLANE FINDS 150 MPH WINDS IN WILMA...

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA FROM CABO CATOCHE TO PUNTA GRUESA.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT IN CUBA FOR THE PROVINCES OF
MATANZAS WESTWARD THROUGH PINAR DEL RIO...AND FOR THE ISLE OF
YOUTH. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HONDURAS FROM THE
HONDURAS/NICARAGUA BORDER WESTWARD TO CABO CAMARON.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

ALL INTERESTS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND THE FLORIDA PENINSULA SHOULD
CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF WILMA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 1 AM EDT...0500Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 16.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.0 WEST OR ABOUT 175 MILES...
280 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF GRAND CAYMAN AND ABOUT 405 MILES...655
KM...SOUTHEAST OF COZUMEL MEXICO.

WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR. A
TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AN AIR FORCE PLANE MEASURED MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF NEAR 150
MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. THE
HURRICANE COULD BECOME A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE TODAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES... 30 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 155 MILES...250 KM.

LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE JUST REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE
RECONNAISSANCE PLANE WAS IS 901 MB...26.61 INCHES.

WILMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15
INCHES...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS NEAR 25 INCHES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
ACROSS CUBA THROUGH FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5
TO 10 INCHES...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE
ACROSS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...SWAN ISLAND...AND JAMAICA THROUGH
THURSDAY. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES...WITH
ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE FROM HONDURAS
NORTHWARD TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO THROUGH THURSDAY.

REPEATING THE 1 AM EDT POSITION...16.9 N... 82.0 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 901 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 2 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 5 AM
EDT.

FORECASTER AVILA


Satellite Image (have patience)
http://tinyurl.com/6fmsy

Five Day Cone--Is Florida in Wilma's Future???
http://tinyurl.com/exear

**Category Four Hurricane:
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. Hurricane Dennis of 2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.

 

[Buzz Mills]

WILMA is a MONSTER HURRICANE

 

[Dark Knight]

Hurricane Hunters have just recorded a pressure of 901 mb, the 5th lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. This represents a 69 mb drop in less than 8 hours! Winds are now up to 150 mph making this a Category 4 hurricane. Wilma could become a Category 5 later this morning. Hurricane watches have been extended up to parts of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Hurricane Wilma is moving west-northwestward at 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Heavy showers are likely in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, northern Honduras and southern Cuba. Wilma may try to slip through the Yucatan Channel into the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico and turn to the east or northeast. Residents of the southern Florida, including the Keys, should begin thinking about the possibility of a hurricane strike sometime this coming weekend.

Link: www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/?from=wxcenter_news

 

[Dark Knight]

WILMA is a MONSTER HURRICANE

Appropos for a Halloween Hurricane, eh? ^..^

 

[ariel7]

Hurricane Hunters have just recorded a pressure of 901 mb, the 5th lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. This represents a 69 mb drop in less than 8 hours! Winds are now up to 150 mph making this a Category 4 hurricane. Wilma could become a Category 5 later this morning. Hurricane watches have been extended up to parts of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Hurricane Wilma is moving west-northwestward at 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Heavy showers are likely in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, northern Honduras and southern Cuba. Wilma may try to slip through the Yucatan Channel into the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico and turn to the east or northeast. Residents of the southern Florida, including the Keys, should begin thinking about the possibility of a hurricane strike sometime this coming weekend.

Link: www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/?from=wxcenter_news

I am absolutely shocked!
It was my hope that this thing would be nothing more than a nuisance...
not a nightmare.
Prayers for whoever is in it's path...
(I hope that it weakens as quickly as it intensified!)

love,
Ariel:blowkiss:

 

[Buzz Mills]

The five day cone forecasts that:

Between Fri @ 8PM and Sat @ 8PM, Wilma will move approx. 300 miles
Between Sat @ 8PM, and Sun @ 8PM, Wilma will move approx. 700 miles

so Wilma may move across Florida, quickly, at roughly 20-25 miles per hour, which will help lessen the damage sustained, but if it is a Category Five when it hits Florida, that won't be good news.

 

[Dark Knight]

WILMA IS UNDERGOING RAPID INTENSIFICATION AND IS CLOSE TO BECOMING A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE

As of 2:30 AM EDT Wednesday, Hurricane Wilma had maximum sustained winds of near 175 mph. The storm was centered near 17.0 north and 82.2 west, or about 170 miles south of Grand Cayman. The minimum central pressure was 892 millibars or 26.34 inches or a drop of 53 millibars in about 3 hours.

More at link: http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/regions.asp?partner=accuweather&site=ATL

 

[Dark Knight]

MIAMI (AP) - Wilma has strengthened into a Category-Five
hurricane. The National Hurricane Center says top sustained winds
have increased to near 175 miles per hour.

Forecasters say Air Force reconnaissance planes measured Wilma's
top sustained winds at 175 miles per hour at 2:30 a-m Eastern time.
That was 25 miles-per-hour stronger than measurements less than two
hours before.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.)

 

[Buzz Mills]

MIAMI (AP) - Wilma has strengthened into a Category-Five
hurricane. The National Hurricane Center says top sustained winds
have increased to near 175 miles per hour.

Forecasters say Air Force reconnaissance planes measured Wilma's
top sustained winds at 175 miles per hour at 2:30 a-m Eastern time.
That was 25 miles-per-hour stronger than measurements less than two
hours before.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.)

Wilma is beginning to look very ugly. It may turn out to be the most intense hurricane ever recorded at the rate it is going, especially with many days of open warm water ahead.

Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.

 

[ariel7]

They just said(on TWC) that Wilma is now at 884 mb making it now the
strongest hurricane on record!!!


This is hard to fathom.

love and prayers,

Ariel

 

[Buzz Mills]

HURRICANE WILMA ADVISORY NUMBER 16
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 AM EDT WED OCT 19 2005

...AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE PLANE REPORTED 884 MB...THE LOWEST
MINIMUM PRESSURE EVER MEASURED IN A HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC
BASIN...THIS VALUE SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION UNTIL CALIBRATED...

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA FROM CABO CATOCHE TO PUNTA GRUESA.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT IN CUBA FOR THE PROVINCES OF
MATANZAS WESTWARD THROUGH PINAR DEL RIO...AND FOR THE ISLE OF
YOUTH. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HONDURAS FROM THE
HONDURAS/NICARAGUA BORDER WESTWARD TO CABO CAMARON.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

ALL INTERESTS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND THE FLORIDA PENINSULA SHOULD
CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE WILMA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 5 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 17.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.5 WEST OR ABOUT 170 MILES...
270 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF GRAND CAYMAN AND ABOUT 365 MILES...
590 KM...SOUTHEAST OF COZUMEL MEXICO.

WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR. A
TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 175 MPH...280 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. WILMA IS A CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE EXPECTED
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES... 30 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

AN AIR FORCE PLANE JUST MEASURED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 884
MB...26.10 INCHES. THIS IS THE LOWEST PRESSURE EVER RECORDED IN A
HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. HOWEVER...THIS PRESSURE VALUE
SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION UNTIL IT IS FULLY CALIBRATED.

WILMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15
INCHES...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS NEAR 25 INCHES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
ACROSS CUBA THROUGH FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5
TO 10 INCHES...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE
ACROSS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...SWAN ISLAND...AND JAMAICA THROUGH
THURSDAY. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES...WITH
ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE FROM HONDURAS
NORTHWARD TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO THROUGH THURSDAY.

REPEATING THE 5 AM EDT POSITION...17.2 N... 82.5 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 884 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 8 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 11 AM
EDT.

FORECASTER AVILA

Satellite Image (have patience)
http://tinyurl.com/6fmsy

Five Day Cone--Is Florida in Wilma's Future???
http://tinyurl.com/exear

Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb. Hurricane Wilma is now at 884 mb. which is a new record as the Most Intense Hurricane EVER RECORDED.

KATRINA
Wind Speed at Landfall, 140mph-----Maiximum Wind Speed, 175mph
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...923 MB. (at landfall) 902 MB (at its lowest)

RITA
Wind Speed Presently, 120mph-----Maiximum Wind Speed, 175mph
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND 85 MILES FROM THE CENTER
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...931 MB (presently), 897 MB (at its lowest)

 

[poco]

They just said(on TWC) that Wilma is now at 884 mb making it now the
strongest hurricane on record!!!


This is hard to fathom.

love and prayers,

Ariel

I can't believe President Bush doesn't do something about these hurricanes!

 

[ariel7]

I can't believe President Bush doesn't do something about these hurricanes!

LOL!!

 

[Dark Knight]

Accuweather seems to think it will drop down to a Cat. 3 by the time is reaches Florida. We shall see. Of course, 3 isn't something to sneeze at.

 

[Aperture]

Time to start serious thinking about moving to North Georgia or inland South Carolina or something. It seems Mother Nature has painted a bulls-eye on Florida.

How can anyone really be prepared for a category 3 or higher storm -- short of just evacuating several days out before predicted landfall. And then its a game of hide and seek guessing where Wilma twists and wobbles. Having gone through Charley, Frances and Jeanne last year, you have this automatic "cone of uncertainty" mode you have to switch to when one threatens. Time to get the drill in full swing.

The roads will be a mess by tomorrow. Sigh . . . prayers for all of us in Florida in the cone of uncertainty. :banghead:

 

[Amraann]

Effective at noon today all non-residents in the Florida Keys must leave.
The toll Bridge in Key Largo to the mainland will cease charging. (Card Sound Road Toll Bridge)
This includes anyone living on a boat as well.

 

[poco]

Here we go again............. those poor people in the Keys - they spend more time evacuating than they do living there!!! Geez!!!

 

[Ntegrity]

Doesn't this make hurricane #8 for Florida in just two years? If the beach erosion continues, my house should be waterfront after Wilma. Time to sell and move to Alaska! :dance:

 

[Amraann]

Not quit that bad Poco but it does almost feel like that.


Ntegrity!! Waterfront property in Florida still goes for a mint!!
Think of all the profits