Hurricane Wilma Live Thread (As of 2:30 am EDT, Wilma is a Category 5 with 175-mph winds )

NHC - NOAA ^ | 18 October 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

The storm track - look where it is Saturday, and how far off the Atlantic coast Sunday. It's going to cross the state like a bullet train.

[laz]

There will be massive evacuations due to this storm.

And once again, Jeb will show Blanco and Nagin how it's done.

[dawn53]

I think I mentioned this before, but thankfully, my folks are already out of state visiting my sister. If it keeps heading our way, that will be one less detail to worry about. We'll just have to go secure their home (which is our job anyway) but won't have to get them on a plane out of here.

[dawn53]

Thanks. I hadn't noticed that.

[laz]

It's a rough calculation I did based on the 5-day cone. The distance she's forecast to cover between Saturday and Sunday is about 500 miles, so that works out to about 20 mph.

[dawn53]

I also just noticed 884 mb. Isn't that lower than Gilbert?

[laz]

Yup. Gilbert was 888. Wilma is now the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. She's outdone her sisters Katrina and Rita in both pressure and the speed of her ramp-up to Cat 5.

[mhking]

Live Video Streams:

WBBH-TV/WZVN-TV Ft. Myers (WMP): http://waterbc.wm.llnwd.net/waterbc_netvideo
WESH-TV/DT Orlando/Daytona Beach (RP): http://mfile.akamai.com/7883/live/reflector:24028.ram
WFTV-TV/DT Orlando (RP): http://mfile.akamai.com/7883/live/reflector:20361.ram
WKMG-TV/DT Orlando (RP): http://mfile.akamai.com/7883/live/reflector:23942.ram
WPBF-TV/DT West Palm Beach (RP): http://mfile.akamai.com/7883/live/reflector:24035.ram
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (WMP): http://216.242.118.140/windowsmedia/asx/wsvn_broadband.asx
WTVJ-TV/DT Miami: http://nbc6.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=381015
WPLG-TV/DT Miami (RP): http://mfile.akamai.com/8660/live/reflector:23941.ram
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (WMP): http://wfor.dayport.com/viewer/content/special.php?Art_ID=612&Format_ID=2&BitRate_ID=8&Contract_ID=2&Obj_ID={obj_id}
WTSP-TV/DT St. Petersburg/Tampa (WMP): mms://wmbcast.gannett.speedera.net/wmbcast.gannett/wmbcast_gannett_sep252004_1915_64623
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm

[NautiNurse]

I called my mother yesterday, they are in Stuart (landfall for Frances & Jeanne 2004). The current track has the storm exiting the state in their area. That limits evac options.

[mhking]

They're not necessarily all working yet, but I'm sure most, if not all of 'em will kick in to gear later today.

[NautiNurse]

thank you!

[mhking]

No problem (heading back to bead for a few hours)...

[laz]

look where it is Saturday, and how far off the Atlantic coast Sunday.

If she keeps going and doesn't lose momentum, maybe she'll make it all the way to Portugal. LOL

[SE Mom]

Many thanks for these links.

Our governor is already getting ready (thank GOD for Jeb)..just heard local news discussing evac plans etc. As with many other places- we've had so much rain it won't take much more for flooding to occur.

[RightOnline]

Why do they believe Wilma will take such a hard-right cut towards Florida??

[NautiNurse]

A big trough to the north

[Rebelbase]

Just read your last ping. WOW. Thank God she didn't wait until Sat. moring to bomb. The panic along the Fla. coast would have been beyond description.

[poobear]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/084935.shtml?tswindloop?

This is sort of a cool loop Joe. This thing looks a lot like Charley's path.

[dawn53]

Our local weathercaster said last night that it might come in around Charlotte or Sarasota County. Sad thing is so much of the destruction from Charley has still not been repaired.

Of course, Charley was a surprise for the folks in that area, because it was supposed to brush past them and head to Tampa, but took a sudden turn in.

At least this time they'd have some warning.

[onyx]

I hope you have a nice nap. Can;t sleep here, but at least husband is up and in control...lol.