It's Hurricane Wilma

[malaise]

Wilma just upgraded. Florida get ready.

http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/?from=tabset

[DrDan]

1. another view

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/084537.shtml?5day

throught we escaped any storms this year in the Daytona Beach area - guess I was wrong

[SteppingRazor]

2. In my best Fred Flintstone voice:

WILLLLMMMAAAA!!!!!!!


Time to hunker down again. Board up the windows. Load up on rum and speed and ammunition. These five-day hurricane benders are starting to wear on my health.

[jbane]

7. You beat me to it...

Yabba Dabba Do!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

10. "In my best Aaron Broussard voice:"

FEEEEEEMMMAAAAAA!!!!!

[HereSince1628]

3. Projected to be a Cat 3 in 72 hours....on that path...Key West gets

to see if they can dodge the worst of another hurricane.

[rocktivity]

4. Talk about a "dramatic turn" of events!

Katrina has taught me that all bets are off when a storm enters the Gulf, but that's quite a path they've projected.

I remember hearing about an approaching Florida hurricane as a child and asking my mother if our relatives in the Tampa area would be effected. She said, "They live in western Florida--hurricanes don't go there!"

:headbang:
rocknation

[FlaGranny]

5. Heck, when I was a kid in New Jersey

we had a hurricane THERE! (Edit: I believe it was in the late 1940's or around 1950.) The entire gulf and eastern seaboard of the US is at risk for hurricanes and have had them at one time or another.

The projected path of ths hurricane is directly over me - on the east coast of Florida. It won't lose too much strength either, because the projected path is right over the Everglades.

Where is Fred when you need him. Maybe Barney knows?

[murray hill farm]

6. Yikes!

i am at my isla mujeres home right now...a tiny island just off the tip of the yukatan. Folks here are not too concerned yet.

[Kagemusha]

14. He's doing stupid auto brake commercials in Canada.

"What's that burning smell?"

"Oh, that's Fred's LAST pair of brakes."

"...Very funny."

[SteppingRazor]

8. That path ain't nuthin...

Jeanne last year has to be the most bizarre. Went out into the Atlantic, did a complete 180, came back and nailed us. I mean, what're the freaking chances?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. It's almost as if it's saying, "Central America? Nah."

"Let me hit the States AGAIN!"

[uppityperson]

11. wunderground maps, projected and historical

Looks like they are projecting its course by taking the medium historical path. They have info I don't, but it looks like this.


Gaint featus, sperm whale or baby chick pecking at a worm,what does it look like, beyond trouble?

[Baclava]

27. Uhhhhh.....no....

Computer models are based on current atmospheric conditions...not speculation from past events. Not that computers can't be wrong.

[Sequoia]

12. Calling Pat Robertson...What sins has Florida committed now?

He's on another call, please hold.

[yellowcanine]

72. South Florida to be punished for all of the plastic Cortez architecture.

[sakabatou]

13. And then the greek letters!

[soup]

15. Personally, I think they should use expressions instead.

starting with
ARRGGHHH!
then,
Bummer
Crap
Dammit
Enough
Fuhgeddabouddit
Greasy grimy gopher guts
HolyMoly
Insane
Jerk

etc.

Definitely not something to look forward to.

[mccoyn]

17. That would make this one WTF? -nt

[soup]

20. sure would. good catch!

[AirmensMom]

55. I'm scared to death, soup ...

but you made me laugh. Thanks.

[soup]

59. I'm worried, too.

Well, actually more like freaking out - but don't want to spread my panic around, so 'worried' sounds better.

Some news report mentioned the hurricane of 1921. Being the complete idiot that I am, I looked it up.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/webspecials02/andrew/day4/story1.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/webspecials02/andrew/1921video.shtml
http://tbo.com/hurricane2005/worstcase/

not exactly a cup of hot chocolate, footie jammies, a sleeping pill and a lullaby.

Now this thing is a Cat 5 - 175mph winds - 884 millibars pressure - lowest on record for the Atlantic basin. What the heck happened overnight? Perky Weather Channel woman just reported Wilma's in first place now, like it's some kind of award. woofreakinghoo! (Can I slap her?)

Been reading the local reports from the islands here: http://stormcarib.com/

poor Jamaica is still just getting Pounded. The Honduras report sounds like they aren't faring very well either.

This waiting and wondering is so wearing. Wish there was a direction we could 'wish it' into without affecting anyone else.

Stay safe. Do what you gotta do to get you and yours through. :hug:

[AirmensMom]

61. Here's our local paper.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-wilma,0,1180061.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Where are you? In the islands?

Our internet and cable went down yesterday afternoon, so we didn't have a clue what was going on until I woke up early this morning ... had trouble sleeping through a thunder storm. I'm pretty surprised. This one came up SO fast!

You stay safe, too. :hug:

[soup]

64. We're not waiting till the last minute anymore," said Andrea Yerger

But they won't know until what? sometime Friday? where it's going to hit on Saturday.

Not in the islands, just follow these storms very closely - Makes me crazier than I already am, but can't seem to stop. We're in the Tampa Bay area, level A evacuation, top side of the 'cone of uncertainty' - watching, scared, but not in total panic mode.

Here's our local headlines for today

Hurricane Wilma upgraded to Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_HURRICANE_WILMA_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Wilma Roars to Cat 5
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB6ZA9FZEE.html

Will you need to evacuate, or will you ride it out?

[AirmensMom]

67. Tampa Bay ...

my kitties came from St. Pete. Nice area until the hurricanes hit. Same here in Boca.

We live about 10 miles inland. House was built in late '94, just after the building code upgrades. We have hurricane panels, roof is strapped down, and we can get the cars into the garage. So we'll stay put. There's no way in hell we can figure out when to leave and still be able to get out of FL. Watching the Rita evacuation made us decide to stay put. We would not have a place to go to unless we could get to our daughter's in TN. I have an environmental illness and can't stay in hotels ... and certainly not in crowded shelters. And we'd never leave the kitties behind.

If you evacuate, where will you go?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

16. Looks like Ft. Myers & Port Charlotte areas. Not far from Naples/Tampa.

It's way too early to know. Actually, 99% of the time, it never hits where they say it's going to hit. It always veers and hits somewhere near the area.

[malaise]

24. Yep probably Central Florida

the problem with Wilma is the amount of rain accompanying this system. It has not stopped raining in Jamaica since last Friday and I mean rain - there is severe damage here and she wasn't even a Tropical Storm when this rain started. It is still raining damn it.

[Joanne98]

28. Naples is Republican country.......

[Castilleja]

34. More like Human Being Country

Hurricanes know no ideological boundaries.....

[QC]

35. That's the sort of thing a freeper would say. n/t

[politicat]

29. Not again... they're not even finished cleaning up post-Charley.

Why can't gorram Tallahassee get it and give Jeb a taste of what it's like?

Come on, Florida, go outside and face west and BLOW.....

[flvegan]

18. How delightful

Wherever it goes, it's gonna suck.

[Kailassa]

19. Which letters are used and which are skipped? n/t

[soup]

21. This year's list of names

2005 Season
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina (Corrina according to Laura)
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma

Alpha
Beta

So, q, u, x, y, and z aren't used

[Kailassa]

23. Thanks :-) n/t

[rocktivity]

22. They skip Q, X, Y, Z and I think one or two others.

:headbang:
rocknation

[fasttense]

25. There is no global warming, there is no global warming.

covering my ears and singing now. :sarcasm:

[rocktivity]

31. Global warming doesn't CREATE hurricanes

it just creates bigger, stronger, deadlier ones.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Horse with no Name]

26. It doesn't look good for Florida

But it looks like it is going to sail across the land and hit the Atlantic again.
I certainly hope it doesn't reform and come in--again-- on the upper Atlantic coast.

[schrodingers_cat]

30. God does indeed talk to Dubya -

I just wish he didn't use hurricanes to get the message across....

[shawmut]

32. Winds are up to 100mph ... pressure is way down

954mb. 16mb drop in three hours.

[Zynx]

33. Looks like it wants to finish off what Charley started last year.

[shawmut]

36. Winds up to 110mph, pressure down to 945mb/27.90"

[tom_paine]

37. Now a Cat 4 -- 150 mph winds

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm24/stormtrack_large.html

[ECH1969]

38. Hurricane Wilma winds now 150 mph!

Hurricane Hunters have recorded a pressure of 901 mb, the 5th lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. Winds are now up to 150 mph making this a Category 4 hurricane.

Residents of the southern Florida, including the Keys, should begin thinking about the possibility of a hurricane strike sometime this coming weekend.

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

[Endangered Specie]

39. Whoa, that was FAST.

[Straight Shooter]

41. They do seem to be developing rapidly and more ferociously lately.

That's a bad sign of what we'll be dealing with in the coming years ...

[pansypoo53219]

44. it's the water there

very warm and far deeper than 'normal'. the depth is keeping these monsters big and bad.

[regnaD kciN]

43. No kidding...

I quote from a poster on wunderground.com:

FloridaBeachBum is correct. I just heard it on the Weather Channel. The forecaster said he has never seen anything like this. Pressure has dropped to 901mb. He said everyone the "jaws of everyone in the newsroom dropped" when they read the reconnaisance report.

:wow:

[Zynx]

40. Um, ow?

As we've learned again and again (Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Rita), if a hurricane spends much time at all as a 4 or 5, it builds up a gigantic surge that does not dissipate with a drop in winds.

[Erika]

42. W will be on hand with water bottles within 24 hours

handing them out to the white SUV drivers just like in 2000.

[phusion]

45. WTF?

That WAS fast...Seems like it was a tropical storm like...five hours ago?

:scared:

[sleipnir]

46. What's sad is, some people alive today in Florida won't be by next week.

Of course, no one can know the exact date of their death. Not to be morbid, but in spite of all this data and records, there is a human side. Certainly there are people right now reading about this storm, wondering about their future perhaps, not knowing that by next week they will be dead. Their deaths caused by this massive storm and whatever course of events that will shape the next few days.

We should never forget the true cost of nature and the constant reminders that we live in a dangerous world that should not be dismissed out of hand.

[Zhade]

56. Sobering, but important to remember.

Make the days count, people.

[AngryOldDem]

70. Very, very true

We have a very elderly friend (and veteran of hurricanes) who lives by herself in Fort Myers. When one of the hurricanes blew through there last year, she could not get out because there was no one to evacuate her. The day before it hit we tried calling EVERYPLACE to see if anyone could get her out. We were sure that she would be killed. But, she rode it out, with minimal damage to her property. She also said that she would NEVER go through another storm in her home alone again.

I think we'll be placing some long-distance calls here over the next 24 hours, and maybe paying for a plane ticket so that she can get the hell out for awhile.

Some people do choose to stay; others, unfortunately, cannot get a way out, or they opt for that too late. In any event, all of Florida should be in our thoughts.

[gristy]

47. I remember they failed to predict the rate of strengthening of Katrina too

This is from wwwa.accuweather.com/news-weathernews.asp as of now:

Hurricane Wilma has rapidly gained strength since being upgraded to hurricane status Tuesday morning. The 12th hurricane of the 2005 season is now at Category 2 strength, and Accuweather.com forecasters say it will continue to intensify, gaining Category 3 strength by Wednesday morning. Taking advantage of ideal conditions for intensification, Wilma is expected to become a Category 4 storm by late Wednesday, with the potential for Category 5 strength by late Thursday.

And you are telling me it's a Cat 4 right now? :wow:

[WindRavenX]

48. it's a CAT 5 now

:scared:

[Zynx]

68. Strength forcasting is nowhere near as good as track forecasting

[Pachamama]

49. Bush Co. is praying to GAWD that Wilma is HUGE! They want the coverage by

media whores to be 24x7, wall to wall Hurricane Wilma coverage instead of the Perp Walks and indictments of their entire staff!

:eyes:

[jayfish]

50. CNN:Hurricane Wilma 'extremely dangerous' Category 5

http://www.cnn.com/

Hurricane Wilma has strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 hurricane, with sustained maximum winds of 175 mph, the National Hurricane Center said today. The hurricane's minimum pressure is 892 millibars -- the lowest pressure observed in 2005. Forecasters warn that the storm could slam into southwestern Florida by this weekend.

Jay

[54anickel]

51. Sheesh, that was FAST!...n/t

[fleabert]

52. that sucker hit some HOT ASS water! nt

[Sabriel]

62. Now down to 884 mb

Yikes. I hope the Keys will be there next time we find the $$ to visit....

[Baclava]

53. She done blowed up

That's unreal...a 2 mile wide eye?

[VolcanoJen]

54. Wilma Strengthens to Catgeory 5 - AP

:scared: :scared: :scared:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051019/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/hurricane_wilma

Excerpt:

By FREDDY CUEVAS, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - Hurricane Wilma strengthened into a Category 5 monster early Wednesday with 175 mph winds, and forecasters said a key reading of the storm's pressure showed it to be the most powerful of the year.

Wilma was on course to sideswipe Central America and Mexico, and forecasters warned of a "significant threat" to Florida by the weekend.

The storm's power multiplied greatly over the last day. It was only Tuesday morning that Wilma grew from a tropical storm into a weak hurricane with 80 mph winds.

Forecasters warned that Wilma was likely to rake Honduras and the Cayman Islands before turning toward the narrow Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico's Cancun region — then move into the storm-weary Gulf.

[Pachamama]

57. Lowest Min Pressure EVER Measured in a Hurricane in the Atlantic Basin!

Hey LavaLady! :hi:

Check out this "Wilma" Update report just posted on NOAA!

:scared:

000
WTNT34 KNHC 190835
TCPAT4
BULLETIN
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

[AngryOldDem]

58. Just saw that...

And it gave me chills. Could this be the "big one" we've been fearing for years?

It does not have a long way to go (relatively speaking) before it makes landfall, so it probably won't lose a lot of its punch.

[Pachamama]

60. Maybe its the 1st of many big ones...

...and to think that there are 6 weeks to go in the "official" season for hurricanes...

Also interesting to note: It says on NOAA that its the 1st time they have EVER had to start with new naming alphabetically in same season...

[AngryOldDem]

69. Exactly

Look for the Cat 1s and Cat 2s to become the exceptions to the rule of the Cat 4s and Cat 5s. Although these storms have weakened as they've gotten closer to landfall, I don't think we'll be seeing that in the years to come.

I also predict that the hurricane season will become...well, unpredictable.

In any event, we are all in for a wild ride, weatherwise.

[malaise]

63. I suspect

that she blew up for the 'W factor. Dubya ia a major disaster - why not Wilma. She has left unbelievable damage in Jamaica and she was not even a tropical storm when she passed us. Rain is still falling and I mean heavy rain.
Pressure of 884 is lower than Gilbert and that's a record. I really hope she weakens before she passes Cancun, Western Cuba and the US mainland, her final destination. It's not looking good for Florida.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

65. Pressure is 882 now...that came from the Weather Channel 5 mins ago.

[malaise]

66. Well the other W

has broken a plethora of records for destruction and freefall slides in the polls. Wilma keeps very bad company.

[VolcanoJen]

71. I just saw film of Kingston on CNN International

It looks like Wilma dumped devastating amounts of rain there... malaise, I hope all is well with you. It's hard to believe she wasn't even a tropical storm when she passed you!

Take care, malaise.

[malaise]

73. I'm OK

The fact that lightning hit out my DSL is really minor in the scheme of things.
Went to work this morning, but very few people were there. I just returned home after checking a few peeps in need - there's some water around on my regular route, but nothing life threatening.

Thousands of our citizens are not OK though and two main highways are flooded leaving thousands marooned. Getting to Kingston is virtually impossible at this time and rain is still falling.

We expect the rain to stop by tomorrow evening.

I don't like how Wilma is shaping up - looks like Central Florida.

[Seabiscuit]

74. So where does Fred Flintstone figure in all this?

[Orrin_73]

75. Welcome Wilma we missed ya

"sarcasm"