WILMA now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin

[cloudythescribbler]

Measured by the usual scientific criteria of hurricanes, how low the pressure is in its eye, Wilma is the strongest one ever, at 884 milibars, edging out Gilbert in 1988. Two of the top four have been in this season (Rita was briefly close also).
With Wilma, the hurricane season is now tied with 1933 with the largest NUMBER of named storms ever also.

Source: CBS News, 8:26 am

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/19/national/main...

(CBS/AP) Gathering strength at a fierce pace, Hurricane Wilma grew into a Category 5 monster storm early Wednesday with 175 mph winds. Forecasters warned the storm was "extremely dangerous" and said a key reading of its pressure was the lowest ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.

"This will make this the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, stronger than Gilbert" in 1988, National Hurricane Center forecaster Jennifer Pralgo told CBS Radio News.

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

<snip>

The Air Force plane recorded a preliminary pressure reading Wednesday morning of 884 millibars, the lowest minimum pressure ever recorded in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Lower pressure translates into higher wind speed.

Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras were getting heavy rain from the storm, though it wasn't likely to make landfall in any of those countries. Forecasts showed it would likely turn toward the narrow Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico's Cancun region — then move into the storm-weary Gulf.

[savemefromdumbya]

1. Jebb will be able to show how good FEMA are

GOv Bush will put on a display with FEMA that you have never seen before...

[HeeBGBz]

2. The west side of Cuba looks to get stomped

Should be going through there as a Category 5.

[ewagner]

4. Yes

that's what it looks like...

the steering will probably be determined by how fast that high pressure system exits the gulf region....

[Kagemusha]

5. Well at least we know Cuba knows how to evacuate people.

And animals, even.

Wonder what they (edit: US authorities)'ll do with the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

[0007]

6. That's an interesting question!

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. Nothing. The Lord helps those who help themselves.

and a fair amount of disdain for Bush and the far right.

[superconnected]

31. somebody should point out to them that the Lord might be pissed

because of their blasphemous biggotry and corruption, in his name.

But Swaggert probably thinks only poor people get punnished for being corrupt.

[Tesha]

54. "What detainees?" (NT)

[Tims]

55. If I remember right

Guantanamo is on the far southeastern side of the island.

[ed murrow]

3. "WILMA now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin"

What?

There is still no proof that global warming exists!


Sincerely,

George W. Bush

[ed murrow]

7. ""WILMA now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin""

You are the bestest President ever!

Sincerely,

Harriet Miers

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. Dear Harriet,

I think you are swell. You should swing by my place some time for amyl nitrate and crazy weasel sex.

Sincerely,

James Dobson

[purji]

12. LOL

I needed a laugh this morning! Thanks!

[gauguin57]

25. "Dear Mister Focus on the Family"

"How'd ya like to focus on my FANNY?"

Hot monkey love,
Harriet

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

52. Dear Ms. I - have - no - positions - on - anything.

How'd you like to assume the position? In my pants. Paging Sir Mix-a-lot! White courtesy telephone, please!

Sincerely,

James Dobson
Focus on the Family Jewels

[Sanity Claws]

70. Dear James,

Is 8 PM good for you? Have enough purple pills?
Yours,
Harry

[Theres-a]

10. "Wilma now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin"

Martial law is now in effect,citizen.For your safety. Sincerely, Jeb 'n George Bush

[trekbiker]

57. Mmmmmm... Harry.. my Racoon eyed little

armadillo... you wear green so you can hide..

- yer dubya

[ToolTex]

14. Oh scat, Harriet. Get outa here.

No, you're the most potent Mr Pres.

[cloudythescribbler]

69. hurricanes (WILMA) and global warming

on the serious side, studies have shown that global warming, by raising the temperatures of the ocean, and especially of the Gulf and the Caribbean, can increase the INTENSITY of hurricanes, but said nothing about their frequency. There is also supposedly an up-cycle period from now until 2020 of more hurricanes after a relative lull since 1990 (?). I hadn't noticed much a lull.

But why shouldn't it stand to reason that if hurricanes form during the warm season when oceans are warm, then why wouldn't having warmer oceans for a longer time form MORE hurricanes as well as more POWERFUL ones? That's what we've seen.

2005 -- already tied for the largest NUMBER of named(or nameable) storms in over 150 years of tracking. And the hurricane season isn't over yet.

2005 -- we've also seen a lot of POWERFUL storms, including a number of category 5 hurricanes, whether they were that powerful when they made landfall or not. Rita was at one point the third most powerful Atlantic storm ever. Now we have Wilma at #1. And there have been a bunch of other category 5's.

Actually, as evidence of global warming goes, the stuff at the polar caps and arctic & antarctic regions, as well as glaciers all over the world, is more telling, but the hurricanes are more noticeable, even if the causal link is not as tight.

[EuroObserver]

82. With the Gulf Stream beginning to fail

(aka Atlantic Conveyor), North-West Europe will have to prepare for much colder winters.

[donheld]

73. Welcome to DU Mr Murrow

[skids]

8. Recommended.

Just in the off chance that there are any Florida DUers so obsessed with Fitzmas they forget to look at the weather, greatest page needs a Wilma thread.

[Tuesday_Morning]

32. Thanks Skids and everybody for the heads up.

I've been working long hours on a project and just stopping to check out the latest Fitzmas news....so I had no idea.

I was hoping to buy champagne today instead of hurricane supplies. Man, it feels like a nasty game of dodgeball around here.

[donsu]

44. I'm in Key West and this will be our 4th storm of the season

don't know yet what part of Wilma will hit us but any of it stinks.

tourists and non-residents are to start leaving here by noon today.

waiting is one of the worst parts.

then sitting out the storm itself, listening to the wind roar.

4 times is 4 times too many!

[calico1]

11. "WILMA now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin"

This is punishment for all you sinners!

Love,

Pat Robertson

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

43. Who are you to speak for God?

Everybody knows I (and my army of inbred drones) are the only ones God loves.

Hate,

Fred Phelps

[SpiralHawk]

15. "There is no such thing as global climate change" - Bush, Rush, etc. etc.

The Republican Party Ostrich buries its head in its own ignorant butt.

[all.of.me]

16. yikes! it went from a cat 1 to a cat 5 while i was sleeping!!!

amazing. we thought katrina was bad. this could be worse, unless she loses speed over the next couple days. i am curious to see how quickly the emergency response will be in florida. any bettors?!?!?! rofl

[Skink]

20. This could be the Cat 6.

It has rapture written all over it.

[all.of.me]

23. yup.

i have said several times that they'll have to change the scale to include 6's and 7's. this is really getting intense. seems like the earth is cleaning house.

[megatherium]

51. It's forecast to lose strength before it gets to Florida.

Winds in the neighborhood of 110 mph upon landfall. Still a "formidable" hurricane, as put in Discussion #17 issued by the Tropical Prediction Center of the National Weather Service: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

[bunny planet]

17. Please send out good vibes to my home in Florida, in the Tampa

Bay area. We live in NJ now but we love that little pink house in (blue) St. Petersburg. We were in the shelter last year when Charlie was headed right for us, missed us by very little. I'm glad my little ones are out of harms way right now but I feel for those people. I'm just praying that Wilma weakens like crazy before hitting land anywhere. The people in Port Charlotte are still living in destroyed homes and FEMA towns a year after Charlie hit.

We really need a praying smilie on hand here at DU but for now this about covers it....

[calico1]

19. I joke around about the idiots in power but I am

really worried. I have an aunt and cousin who live in Fl. I will keep you in my thoughts as well and anyone else who is from Fl.

[bunny planet]

61. Thank you.

[Shine]

21. Blessings of Light, Protection and Safety to all concerned...

Shine

[bunny planet]

62. Thank you very much.

[Patiod]

39. vibes sent

hope the little pink house is okay this weekend

[bunny planet]

60. Thank you, much appreciated.

[Zhade]

75. Good thoughts to all potentially affected now available at aisle 2.

My parents are in Florida (Pensacola, so they should be fine unless this thing swings directions), and I grew up in the state, so I'm really watching this close.

Plus, it's just amazing how fast it powered-up.

[shance]

18. How convenient.

In fact, its too convenient really.

Jeb will be able to loot more disaster money from us the taxpayers and leave those in need to rot.

Time for an independent investigation on the HAARP project and how it affects our weather and the ionosphere more specifically and Americans need to demand more transparency in particular to bills passed into law like the Weather Modification ("Manipulation")Law.

[slackmaster]

22. Right on

[Up2Late]

WooHoo! AFDB wearers Unite!

<http://zapatopi.net/afdb />

If you don't know how to make your own Tinfoil hat, here's the instructions. <http://zapatopi.net/afdb/build.html >

And don't miss the testimonials page at the link below:
<http://www.zapatopi.net/afdb/testimonials.html >

[Patiod]

40. Absolutely

[Zynx]

42. Come back to reality before you are lost.

We have had hurricane seasons before with two Cat 5s. It is entirely possible we have had them with three and just didn't have the data. Secondly, there is no evidence at all to suggest HAARP can do anything approaching manufacturing a hurricane, much less dictating its strength and direction. If the rightwingers truly have the power over events human and natural that you tin-foil types claim they do, why don't we just surrender? Seriously, if they can bring hurricanes and earthquakes on cue, why don't I give up?

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

63. reality schmality--->seeding clouds is nothing new

Reality Check~: they seeded the clouds at Woodstock in 1969
-Dohhh!
-and nowadays the technology is much more advanced.
Don't worry though,
if anyone in the federal government is up to anything devious I'm sure they'll send you
and everyone else a brochure explaining their process in detail-
-hell,
you may even get a phone call asking your opinion about the ethics behind manipulation.

...And HOW DARE we even contest the squeeky clean upstanding image of our federal overlords!
That might be treasonous.


"why don't I give up?"
why don't we identify the fact that there IS a problem instead of denying that there is one--that is the first step toward a solution--works for AA and NA--

[Zynx]

72. Would you mind saying how one could use HAARP to create a hurricane?

I can claim masturbation creates vibrations in the air that cause hurricanes, but that doesn't make it true. An extraordinary claim such as this does need some kind of proof.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

45. Eh

"The X Files" was cancelled in 2002.

Jus' sayin'.

[Shine]

24. Wow! What an insane hurricane season this has been!

....meanwhile the Bushies are saying, "Global warming, what's THAT?!"

DUH.

[sjdnb]

26. My Weather Links

I'm sure many of you know of these, but, I thought I'd share in case someone was interested:

Wunderground http://www.wunderground.com /
IWIC http://www.independentwx.com /
CIMSS Tropical Cyclones http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/tropic.html
NHC http://www.nhc.noaa.gov /
UNISYS Weather (Hurricane Data) - scroll down page http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/index.html
Geo Earth Forums (Tropical Weather) http://www.geo-earth.com/forums/index.php?showforum=58

[converted_democrat]

65. Thank you for the links, and welcome to DU!!

Thank you for putting the links up. I live in Florida and they are very useful to me.

[Bloodblister Bob]

27. Maybe Pat Robertson can pray this one away. n/t

[KenCarson]

28. that's just so far this season, we still have until NOV 30

nt

[whatever4]

29. omg

and the season isn't over YET. Strongest hurricane ever? I'm like that other poster, it changed overnight to a 5.

I sure hope it weakens as much as they predict, back down to a Cat 2. Hoping, hoping, hoping. I wish the jet stream could bump that bitch back out to sea.

[AlGore-08.com]

30. A CNN report said one 1933 hurricane might have been counted twice

Nobody's sure because they didn't have satellite tracking etc. back then. So 2005 might already have the most hurricanes ever recorded.

But there's no such thing as global warming!! The Competitive Enterprise Institute says so!!

http://www.cei.org/sections/section.cfm?section=1

[whopis01]

35. This year does have the most hurricanes ever

The names are given to tropical storms, not hurricanes. There were 10 storms in 1933 that became hurricanes. This year there have been 12 so far. Strangely most places report having only 9 hurricanes in 1933, but according to NOAA there were 10.

It seems that the 1890's were not a good time either. There were 10 hurricanes (not just tropical storms) in 1893 with 4 of them being active at the same time!

[Jim__]

33. I wonder what's causing all these severe hurricanes this year.

After all, we all know that global warmiong is just another liberal myth.

[hvn_nbr_2]

34. What kind of sinners are concentrated on the west coast of Florida?

Quick, Robberson, Failwell, Limbloat, who should we blame for this one?

[whopis01]

36. I'm not sure, but...

... those damn retirees must be up to something down there!

[geniph]

It's those damned Grey Panthers

and their evil pogrom against Dear Leader's looting...err...I mean piratization...shoot!...I mean privatization of Social Security!

[Zynx]

47. There are a lot of rich bastards there.

But I'm sure we can find some gays to blame as well for God's terrible wrath.

[Corgigal]

74. Not to mention Viagra

It's making those senior citizens homes into cat houses.

[Massachusetts]

37. "WILMA now most potent hurricane in history of Atlantic basin"

Meanwhile things are normal at The Mount Washington Observatory
Sunday/Monday
130+ mph winds, 12 foot snow drifts, nearly 3 feet of tower rime ice, and whiteout winds from the latest October storm.

[Gormy Cuss]

68. It's not considered the most severe weather location in the US for nothing

Have they broken the October snow record yet? Last I checked they were getting close.

What I haven't heard is the snow levels on the other Presidentials. Any idea?

[EuroObserver]

83. Nice n/t

[Up2Late]

38. Wilma strongest hurricane on record (AFP)

("despite the favorable large-scale environment, ... Wilma is near its maximum potential intensity, and further strengthening is not anticipated..." Gee, Thanks for small favors.)

Wilma strongest hurricane on record

19/10/2005 14h29

MIAMI (AFP) - Hurricane Wilma, which swelled into an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm, threatening Mexico and the Caribbean, is the strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic. The hurricane's barometric pressure, 882 millibars, was "the lowest pressure on record for a hurricane in the Atlantic basin," the US National Hurricane Center said Wednesday -- and the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

At 1200 GMT, winds at the center of the storm were clocked at 280 kilometers (175 miles) per hour. The hurricane was located some 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and was slowly whipping west-northwest toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, but it was expected to turn toward the northwest within 24 hours.

"Wilma is a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane," the center said after noting that the hurricane -- a record-matching 21st storm of the year in the Atlantic -- had strengthened to the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale. The center added, however, that "despite the favorable large-scale environment, ... Wilma is near its maximum potential intensity, and further strengthening is not anticipated."

Wilma is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico, then veer northeast toward Florida. "All interests in the Florida Keys (the southernmost US islands) and the Florida Peninsula should closely monitor the progress of extremely dangerous Hurricane Wilma," the hurricane center said.

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/051019134236.qs... >
(more at link above)

[Up2Late]

41. I say, This is indisputable Proof that God is a Communist and loves Cuba!

I will not say God hates America, but God definitely Loves Castro.

This is the 45 hour forecast (when it drops back to a Cat 4)



<http://tsr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/tracker/dynamic/200524N.html >

[funflower]

56. He must like margaritas & beaches, too.

He's cutting Cancun & Cozumel a pretty nice break.

[Up2Late]

77. Maybe not, check out the current 33 hour wind forecast

Cancun might get smacked around a bit (Cat 3 winds):



<http://tsr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/tracker/dynamic/200524N_3H.ht... >

[EuroObserver]

78. Cancun not necessarily clear. See here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

...Trying to alert mexicopat. just PMed...

[funflower]

79. OK, so maybe He likes SWIMMING in (downtown) Cancun & Cozumel

Guess that's not funny if you live there.

[Minstrel Boy]

46. Wilma is most intense Atlantic storm ever

Wilma is most intense Atlantic storm ever

Hurricane Wilma strengthened dramatically into a Category 5 storm Wednesday, with forecasters saying the "potentially catastrophic" storm was the most powerful weather system ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.

Within less than 18 hours, Wilma grew from a tropical storm showing winds of under 119 km/h to the strongest level of hurricane capable of being recorded on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, packing sustained winds of about 282 km/h.

The storm had a minimum air pressure reading of 882 millibars early Wednesday, according to instruments a U.S. Air Force plane carried into the storm system.

That reading makes it "the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin," according to the website of the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Low pressure corresponds with high wind speed, a measure of a hurricane's intensity.

CBC News

[skids]

48. Ergh. Possible threat to New England.

"RECENT RUNS OF THE GFS AND
NOGAPS ARE SUGGESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF A THREAT TO NEW ENGLAND.
IN THIS SCENARIO...WILMA BECOMES CAPTURED BY A LARGE MID- TO
UPPER-LEVEL LOW FORECAST TO MOVE INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION IN
FOUR DAYS."

Gah. No more rain! Please! I'm so enjoying seeing the sun for a change.

[Catchawave]

53. The whole East Coast is in it's cone right now....11 am EST

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/1452...

[JoFerret]

49. Grim scenario for Florida - Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-535...

Early Tuesday, Wilma was only a tropical storm with wind of 70 mph. With wind more than 100 mph faster by the same time Wednesday, it had shown in the most rapid strengthening ever recorded in a hurricane, said Hugh Cobb, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

It is forecast to be a potentially devastating Category 3 or 4 hurricane at landfall, although experts acknowledge they have little skill in making strength forecasts. A Category 3 storm has wind of at least 111 mph, a Category 4 has wind of 131 to 155 mph, and a Category 5 is anything above that.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Wilma was still in the western Caribbean, more than 500 miles south of Key West and heading toward the west-northwest at 7 mph. However, the storm should eventually make a sharp right turn toward Florida and pick up forward speed in the Gulf of Mexico because it will get caught in the westerlies, the strong wind current that generally blows toward the east, forecasters said.

Wilma was expected to move across Florida rapidly, which means it wouldn't weaken much over land, Cobb said. That means it's possible Atlantic coast cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach could be hit by wind nearly as strong as on the west coast, he said.
<more>

[uppityperson]

50. Joking aside, yikes.

Good luck everyone. And I am tired of the "why does god hate..." lines, especially coming from what I consider open minded people. I find it interesting how much religion has crept in everywhere. I know some of it is poking fun at the fundies, but still. Thanks for the laughs for the notes between Mr.bush and Miers.

Edit, just looke @ wunderground's latest 5 day tracking and it is interesting how the 5 day track has spread out so far since yesterday. Guess Wilma has places to go, moving fast once it gets going.

[Up2Late]

59. I'm already bored with Wilma, I want TS Alpha!

This has been such a crazy year, I'd hate to see 2005 only "tie" the record number of storms.

[bunny planet]

67. WTF

[opihimoimoi]

58. God is sending messages;;; If ya don't Prepare ya get to Despair...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

64. It's really just another plot by Rove

Can't you see it? I mean, it's so OBVIOUS. It's his revenge for all the crap that's coming down on top of his potato head.

[AngryAmish]

66. I was thinking of going to cozumel for thanksgiving

I hope it is still there.

[watercolors]

80. We have been going to Cozumel every Thanksging

for the last 35 years. Sadly this year it has gotten too expensive for us. We spent our 50th anniversary there in april of 2005, hope to back this april, our grandson has been certified for SCUBA. Cozumel is oue favorite place in the world to dive. We stay at a very quaint mexican hotel, Casa Pepita. We have been there for two hurricanes, last one Roxanne, also in Oct. I consider Cozumel second home, I absolutely love the island, we have many old friends there. Our first trip was in 1972, and we hqave made two to three trips a year. It surpasses so many places, we have been diving in many great places, Bonaire second!

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

71. Is God trying to tell Jebbie something?

[Catchawave]

81. I think Allah is trying to tell his brother something!

*snork*

[NYdemocrat089]

76. Hurricane center: Deadly Wilma eyeing Florida (Categroy 5!)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/10/19/wilma/index.html

Officials ordered non-residents in the Florida Keys to evacuate in advance of the dangerous Category 5 storm -- which is off Mexico.

"We had well over a thousand lives lost in Katrina," said Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Florida. "If Wilma comes into the Florida coast as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, that potential for large loss of life is with us here with this hurricane."

[lovuian]

84. if I was a Floridian I'd be packing my stuff and filling my gas tank!!!

this is really ugly!!!