Hurricane Wilma Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 24 October 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Category Three Major Hurricane Wilma is barreling toward the Southwest Florida coastline. The storm is packing wind speeds of 125mph, moving NW at 20mph, with an enormous eye 65 miles in diameter. Landfall is anticipated shortly in Collier County between 6:00 and 7:00AM ET.

Storm surge flooding of 9 feet to 17 feet is possible along the coast near and to the south of where Wilma makes landfall. Storm surge of 5 to 8 feet is predicted for the Keys. The storm has spawned tornados throughout the Florida peninsula since yesterday evening.

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
Florida Department of Emergency Management

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 Radar Still Image w/watches warnings
Melbourne Radar Still Image w/watches warnings
Key West Radar Still Image w/watches warnings
Tampa Bay Radar Still image w/watches warnings

Streaming Video:

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

Additional Resources:

Pet Friendly Florida Shelter Info
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City
CrownWeather.com

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

Previous Threads:
Hurricane Wilma Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Wilma Part II
Hurricane Wilma Live Thread
Tropical Storm Wilma
Tropical Depression #24

[Lorraine]

My best friend has a condo on North Hutchinson Island. Her building got hit hard twice last year. She had to completely rebuild the interior and just finished two weeks ago. I sure hope it is ok.

Things aren't too bad here in Orlando. I actually got up and planned to go to work, but my boyfriend called and told me he heard on the radio that there was a tornado headed straight to the area where I work. I phoned and security was leaving the guardhouse to go shelter in the corporate office. Head of security told me to STAY HOME. They are ok though as the tornado didn't touch down. I was worried sick for over an hour until he got back and answered my email. I made a joke here last night about feeling like a schoolchild, wondering if I was going to get a snowday. Now I wish it was just a normal day and I was sitting in my cozy office instead of listening to the wind and rain outside.

[don-o]

Heard on the 11:00 radio that Al Roeker (sp) was knocked off his feet. Anyone see that?

[metmom]

I'm waaaaaaaaay north of Miami. (NY) I was just wondering. That puts Miami on the right side of the storm which means they'll get the worst of it. How is storm surge? The winds should be bringing in onshore. Is Miami low?

[meyer]

Well, I don't actually live here, but I'm visiting family in Clermont. It is a nice area, though. I love the rolling hills here, though they're building like crazy in the area.

Of late, it seems that every time I come down for a visit, a hurricane arrives to greet me. I'm starting to think that I've got the "Jim Cantore" disease. Hurricanes are attracted to me as tornados are to trailer parks in Kansas. :)

[al_again]

The good thing is that by 6 PM we should have great weather. This thing is moving quick - should allow for relief efforts to start by early afternoon.

[al_again]

It's coming form the West - there is no surge in Miami. Miami will have minimal problems from this storm.

[sageb1]

"Pinellas Park is about 15 minutes up the road from where we are."

Thanks!

[metmom]

Thanks. That's one huge eye!

[al_again]

Don't worry - you will be able to go out golfing early tomorrow. Look forward to a very nice week of classic October weather in Florida.

[Timeout]

After the eye passes over, you go from calm to hurricane force winds almost instantly. I sure wouldn't want +100 mph winds slamming into my house that quickly. I can see where the damage would be worse from that.

That's always been my assumption, too. But this wasn't a "slam". It was about 2 hours of VERY constant, sustained winds of about 100 mph. It didn't waver. It didn't gust. It was like being in a wind tunnel...steady and strong. The front side wasn't anything like that.

Interestingly, the eye passed about 85 miles west of here, so we were on the "good" side of the storm. When I refer to the eye passing, we didn't get the lull. Just a lower intensity period of about 20 minute. We thought the worst was over. The back side of the storm took us by surprise.

[Diddle E. Squat]

THIS IS AN MSNBC CANOE ALERT!

Michelle Kosinski reporting in by phone from SW FL. Standby for video...

[Normal4me]

FPL (aka Florida Flash and Flicker) have done a good job. I am still experiencing power outages for a few seconds at a time and the wind and rain are still here. That being said, I am seeing an FPL truck going slowly down my street already. Think I'll go get the generator from the jobsite just in case. Be back later.

[piperpilot]

I hope that's the extent of your damage. My parents talked to some of their friends who had their garage doors blown out. My parents went out during the calm period in the eye to let the dog take care of business and said they could see their mailbox hhad been blown down the street.

[piperpilot]

You can say that again!

[Cricket24]

Thanks for the update. You still have power, huh?

[meyer]

Don't worry - you will be able to go out golfing early tomorrow. Look forward to a very nice week of classic October weather in Florida.

No golfing this time around - I left the sticks in Chattanooga. :)

I am hoping to drive across to Wesley Chapel this afternoon to visit more family. The hurricane put a bit of a damper on travelling last night and so far this morning, but I'm thinking that the rains and high winds in this part of the state will soon subside.

[aberaussie]

My cats keep jumping up on the counter to get a whiff of the cool breeze. That window has not been opened since May, probably!

[Michael Goldsberry]

Link

Are you still with us Luis?

[Cricket24]

"Michelle Kosinski reporting in by phone from SW FL. Standby for video..."

Who could ever believe anything she ever says again????

[dawn53]

Believe it or not I just saw some golfers on the course in front of our house (Pinellas county.) Wind must be 25 mph, but sometimes they'll be driving into the wind, and sometimes the wind will be at their backs, so it should even out their score, LOL.

Actually, they're some neighbors that must have decided to go out and try to play golf in the wind. I don't think the course is actually open...there's a bit of cleanup to do from downed limbs and palm fronds.