...Air Force reconnaissance plane reported 884 mb...the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin...this value should be used with caution until calibrated...
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Cabo Catoche to Punta gruesa.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect in Cuba for the provinces of Matanzas westward through Pinar del Rio...and for the Isle of Youth. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Honduras from the Honduras/Nicaragua border westward to Cabo camaron.
A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch remain in effect for the Cayman Islands.
All interests in the Florida Keys and the Florida Peninsula should closely monitor the progress of extremely dangerous Hurricane Wilma.
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 Hurricane Wilma was located near latitude 17.2 north...longitude 82.5 west or about 170 miles... 270 km...south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 365 miles... 590 km...southeast of Cozumel Mexico.
Wilma is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph...13 km/hr. A turn toward the northwest is expected during the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds are near 175 mph...280 km/hr...with higher gusts. Wilma is a catastrophic category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles... 30 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles...260 km.
An Air Force plane just measured a minimum central pressure of 884 mb...26.10 inches. This is the lowest pressure ever recorded in a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin. However...this pressure value should be used with caution until it is fully calibrated.
Wilma is expected to produce storm total accumulations of 10 to 15 inches...with local amounts near 25 inches in mountainous terrain across Cuba through Friday. Additional rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches...with local amounts of 15 inches...are possible across the Cayman Islands...Swan Island...and Jamaica through Thursday. Storm total accumulations of 4 to 6 inches...with isolated amounts of 8 to 12 inches...are possible from Honduras northward to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico through Thursday.
Repeating the 5 am EDT position...17.2 N... 82.5 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds...175 mph. Minimum central pressure... 884 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 Avila
Category Five Hurricane Wilma
Movement toward west-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds...175 mph. Minimum central pressure 884 mb....the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin.
Category Five Hurricane Wilma
Movement toward west-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds...175 mph. Minimum central pressure 884 mb....the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin.
What a thing to wake up to! My sons (21 & 19) and their girlfriends, and an elderly uncle and aunt live in North Port. My mom and sister live in New Port Richy. This is going to be a very stressful weekend. Prayers for everyone in Wilma's path.
My boys just moved down to FL from PA in April, so they know nothing about surviving a hurricaine. I sure hope they're not going to be those idiots you see at the beach 6 hours before it hits, trying to catch some waves LOL.
I saw the title revision of 175 mph and thought it was a joke.
I knew she would strengthen overnight but this is unbelievable!!
ok, Now I'm scared.