249
URNT12 KNHC 131956
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 13/1957Z
B. 26 DEG 39 MIN N
82 DEG 10 MIN W
C. 700 MB 2611 M
D. 110 KT
E. 162 DEG 003 NM
F. 229 DEG 148 KT
G. 162 DEG 003 NM
H. 941 MB
I. 9 C/ 3074 M
J. 20 C/ 2994 M
K. 7 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C5
N. 12345/07
O. 0.1/1 NM
P. AF963 0903A CHARLEY OB 35
MAX FL WIND 148 KT SE QUAD 1955Z.
It was still strengthening till it hit land. I bet some places felt Category 5 winds.
Very good live feed here:
http://waterbc.wm.llnwd.net/waterbc_netvideo
Eyewitnesses saying "Charlotte Harbor has been ripped apart"
I'm really worried about a co-worker, Vicki, who lives in Port Charlotte. This is her day off, and because we are fully staffed today, she didn't need to come in. Well, now we're all very concerned - obviously, there's no power down there. Her cell phone isn't working; we can't reach her.
We just hope she and her husband evacuated. The other day, she was saying her house was in the highest spot in Charlotte County - we're hoping that didn't give her a false sense of security. I can't imagine what she's going through now.
UPDATE: The roof is peeling off the Punta Gorda police department's headquarters. They might be in the middle of those 130-145 mph winds.