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]

Hurricane Wilma has formed in the NW Caribbean Sea. The NHC forecast indicates she will emerge into the Gulf of Mexico as a major Category Three storm. Current forecase models indicate a Florida peninsula landfall.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 0500, 0800, 1100 etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 0500, 1100, 1700, 2300 ET
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track

Wilma Forecast Track Archive
Forecast Models
Buoy Data SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband only
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

[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.