Tropical Storm Wilma Live Thread

NOAA - NHC ^ | 17 October 2005 | NOAA - NHC

[NautiNurse]

The 2005 hurricane season continues to alter the record books. Tropical Storm Wilma has formed in the Caribbean Sea.

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[NautiNurse]

Track has shifted westward.

[NautiNurse]

Say hello to Tropical Storm Wilma

[NautiNurse]

Say hello to Tropical Storm Wilma

[laz]

I see we're both up early this morning monitoring this thing. :)

As the track keeps moving further west, it looks like she'll probably miss both of us here in Florida. Things might not look too good for Louisiana, though, unless she recurves east.

[MEG33]

I still have some of my important papers in plastic bags!

[NautiNurse]

Tropical Storm Wilma Advisory Number 7
Statement as of 5:00 am EDT on October 17, 2005

...Tropical Storm Wilma becomes the 21st named storm of the 2005
   Atlantic season over the northwestern Caribbean Sea...
...Ties the record for named storms set back in 1933...

 
a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch remain in effect for
the Cayman Islands.

 
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 Tropical Storm Wilma was located
near latitude 17.2 north... longitude 79.7 west or about 175 miles
... 280 km... southeast of Grand Cayman.

 

Wilma is moving toward the southwest near  3 mph... 6 km/hr. A slow
motion toward the southwest or west is expected during the next 24
hours.  However...steering currents remain weak and some erratic
motion is possible during the next day or two.

 
Satellite data indicate that maximum sustained winds are estimated
to be near  40 mph... 65 km/hr...with higher gusts. This makes
Wilma the 21st named tropical storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane
season... which ties the record of 21 named storms set back in
1933. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

 
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to  45 miles
... 75 km... mainly southwest of the center.

 
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb...29.53 inches.

 
The depression is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 
4 to 6 inches over the Cayman Islands and Jamaica... with isolated
amounts of 8 to 12 inches possible.

 
Repeating the 5 am EDT position...17.2 N... 79.7 W.  Movement
toward...southwest near  3 mph.  Maximum sustained
winds... 40 mph.  Minimum central pressure...1000 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 Stewart

[sure_fine]

and from accuweather

[jslade]

Mayor Nagin, man your school buses.

[Dallas59]

[laz]

I'm hoping Accuweather is wrong. And I'm sure NautiNurse is hoping more than I am.

[NautiNurse]

Too early for me. Posted last night's discussion...which I have asked to be deleted.

I like the current SW track. Don't like the slingshot track back east toward FL.

[jslade]

Boo! Hiss! Accuweather sucks.

[laz]

Accuweather's track is too far to the east. It looks like she might go over the Yucatan.

[BigSkyFreeper]

That storm is just meandering all over the place in such a small area!

[MEG33]

Too soon to know where she is heading..IMO.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yep. The tracks, whether by the NHC or AccuWeather are predictions. Predictions based on storms at this time in history, and the temperature of the water, and the current upper and lower atmosphere. They don't call it weather forecasting for nothing. :)

[Deetes]

Another one !!!!

[goresalooza]

I stay packed and ready to go...here in FL panhandle we don't wait for schoolbuses or gubment aid to haul us out...LOL!

I'm dreading this one, saw on accuweather earlier that they think a high pressure ridge might keep it away from the northern gulf...and send it either west to Mexico or more easterly toward Tampa or points south.

[dixie sass]

Hello Wilma - wonder where Fred is?