Fresh Vortex Data Message -
551 URNT12 KNHC 222210 VORTEX DATA MESSAGE A. 22/2153Z B. 21 DEG 27 MIN N 87 DEG 01MIN W C. 700 MB 2723 MA D. 60 KT E. 315 DEG 30 NM F. 032 DEG 93 KT G. 308 DEG 34 NM H. 957 MB I. 12 C/ 3057 M J. 14 C/ 3055 M K. 14 C/ NA L. CLOSED WALL M. C60 N. 12345/7 O. 1/1 NM P. NOAA2 1824A WILMA OB 18 MAX FL WIND 93 KT NE QUAD 2145Z REMNENTS OF INNER EYEWALL ON RADAR.
Motion over the last hour 11 minutes is to the northeast (55 degrees) at 3.3 mph. That puts Wilma just over 6 miles from the Gulf on that course, 9 miles from the Gulf going due north, and 23 miles north-northwest (328 degrees) of Cancun.
Beginning the turn...?
The 8pm intermediate advisory has the pressure at 959 mb.
Looking at convection, and at the pressure starting to drop, it looks like Wilma is starting to re-intensify before it gets fully back out over the Gulf.
But I think it will be like Isabel now - it's got a big loosely-wound eye - and I would guess it will not get stronger than a lower-end Cat 3. But that big eye also means a large windfield and a lot of surge - against a coast vulnerable to such. So it's going to be a very interesting couple of days - let's hope it doesn't ramp up much in the Gulf.