Hurricane Wilma Live Thread, Part IV

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.

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

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

ZCZC MIATCEAT4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE WILMA TROPICAL CYCLONE POSITION ESTIMATE NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 6 AM EDT MON OCT 24 2005 AT 6 AM EDT...1000Z... THE CENTER OF THE LARGE EYE OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.8 WEST OR VERY NEAR THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH- SOUTHWEST OF MARCO ISLAND AND ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF NAPLES FLORIDA. THE CENTER WILL CROSS THE COAST WITHIN THE HOUR. FORECASTER PASCH

Reporter timeline: Accounts from Southwest Florida

By Daily News staff

Monday, October 24, 2005

The following are accounts from Daily News reporters stationed around Southwest Florida:

5:45 a.m. _ The eye of Hurricane Wilma approaches the shore of Marco Island and Everglades City.

5:28 a.m. - In North Naples, Daily News Editor Phil Lewis reports the power has gone out in an area off of Orange Blossom Drive. Some popping sounds were heard before the power went down.

5:20 a.m. - In South Fort Myers, reporter Billy Bruce says winds are starting to gust and the winds are blowing toward the west, the opposite direction and not as strongly as occurred with Hurricane Charley
in August 2004. Some popping of transformers can be seen in the distance but the power remains on in areas.

5 a.m. - The National Hurricane Center says the eye of the storm was approaching land off Marco Island and Naples.

4:40 p.m. -- Reporter Larry Hannan reported that the Emergency Operations Center temporarily lost its lights and power. After a few seconds, the backup generator kicked in and the power came back on.

4:35 a.m. â€“ In the Royal Harbor area of Naples, reporter I.M. Stackel says the power was flickering on and off, but the rains had temporarily let up. The wind was building to a howl. Some alarms were
going off in the area. Trees were blowing but remained upright. There was no flooding or storm surge ashore.

4:14 a.m. -- In East Naples, online editor Jay Schlichter reported that power was flickering and winds were becoming very gusty. No large downed tree limbs were observed. Conditions were steadily
beginning to worsen.

4:13 a.m. -- In the Davis Boulevard area of East Naples, reporter Dianna Smith says the power has gone out and the sky is lighting up an eerie fluorescent green from lightning, with winds howling and rain
pounding.

4:10 a.m. -- Situated at the Lee-Collier county line, City Editor Allen Bartlett reports the winds blowing in a steady westerly direction -- from land toward the Gulf -- on the north side of the storm. Trees are
leaning steadily.

4:05 a.m. -- In the Davis Boulevard area of East Naples, reporter Dianna Smith says power has begun to flicker.

3:20 a.m. -- In San Carlos Park, reporter Denise Zoldan says the winds got strong enough to awaken her. Power had remained on so far through the night.

3:11 a.m. -- Situated at the Lee-Collier county line, City Editor Allen Bartlett reports the first power interruption of the night there. About 5 minutes earlier, the strongest rains and wind gusts of the night so far
had arrived with a storm band.

3:06 a.m. â€“ In North Naples, reporter Gina Edwards said winds began howling and objects sounded as if they were slamming against the roof. Power was still on.

http://stormedition.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/24/reporter_timeline_accounts_southwest_florida/

From the weather boards:(all caps warning)

"My word. NWS update with three exclamation marks."

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
550 AM EDT MON OCT 24 2005

...IMMINENT LANDFALL FOR MAJOR HURRICANE WILMA...

...NEW INFORMATION...
FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE SHIFTING FROM
TORNADOES...TO LOCAL FLOODING...AND THEN TO DESTRUCTIVE WINDS
ASSOCIATED WITH WILMAS EYEWALL AS IT PLOWS ACROSS THE PENINSULA.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM JUPITER INLET TO
TITUSVILLE...WITH A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NORTH
OF TITUSVILLE TO SAINT AUGUSTINE. AN INLAND HURRICANE WARNING IS IN
EFFECT FOR OKEECHOBEE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM
WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ORANGE...LAKE...SEMINOLE AND INTERIOR
VOLUSIA COUNTIES. A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR LAKE
OKEECHOBEE.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN
BREVARD...VOLUSIA...SAINT LUCIE...MARTIN...INDIAN RIVER...
OKEECHOBEE...ORANGE...SEMINOLE...VOLUSIA AND LAKE COUNTIES.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 AM...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE
25.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.4 WEST OR ABOUT 55 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
NAPLES FLORIDA...AND ABOUT 175 MILES MILES SOUTHWEST OF STUART.
WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH...WITH AN ADDITIONAL
INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED EXPECTED.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY SAFELY INSIDE
AND CONTINUE TO LISTEN FOR TORNADO WARNINGS AND FLOOD WARNINGS FOR
THEIR AREA EARLY THIS MORNING AND BE READY TO TAKE COVER. IN THE
EVENT OF A TORNADO...OR EVEN FOR DESTRUCTIVE WINDS WITHIN THE INNER
RAINBANDS AND EYEWALL OF WILMA...THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN AN INTERIOR
ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BLOCK HOME OR BUILDING...AND
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

...WIND IMPACTS...
NOW THAT WILMA HAS BECOME STRONGER AND IS MOVING FASTER...THE THREAT
FOR DESTRUCTIVE WINDS TO PENETRATE FARTHER INLAND...EVEN CROSSING THE
PENINSULA TO THE EAST COAST...IS A VERY REAL CONCERN!!! THE THREAT
FOR WIND GUSTS TO 110 MPH EXISTS FOR PARTS OF MARTIN AND SAINT
LUCIE COUNTIES AS THE LARGE EYEWALL OF WILMA APPROACHES...AND THEN
MOVES OFFSHORE IN VICINITY OF STUART AND PALM BEACH LATER THIS
MORNING. IF THE THREAT SITUATION PRESENTS ITSELF...WARNINGS WILL BE
ISSUED FOR THE DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EYEWALL AND
INNER BANDS. PEOPLE SHOULD TREAT THESE WARNINGS AS THEY WOULD TORNADO
WARNINGS...TAKING THE SAME ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES. AGAIN...
THIS IS A VERY REAL CONCERN...ESPECIALLY FOR MARTIN AND SAINT LUCIE
COUNTIES.

THESE DESTRUCTIVE WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROOFING
MATERIALS...AS WELL AS EXPOSED DOORS AND WINDOWS. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE
WILL OCCUR TO MOBILE HOMES THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN THE PATH OF THE
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES WILL OCCUR FROM DOWNED
TREES AND LARGE SIGNS. A FEW ROADS MAY BECOME BLOCKED DUE TO SOME
LARGE DEBRIS...ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE MAIN WIND SWATH OF THE CORE
WINDS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS AND WIND GUSTS CAN NOW BE EXPECTED
ACROSS OKEECHOBEE...OSCEOLA...MARTIN...SAINT LUCIE AND INDIAN RIVER
COUNTIES...AND TO BEGIN SPREADING ACROSS BREVARD...ORANGE...LAKE...
SEMINOLE...AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES BY 8 AM. THE POTENTIAL FOR HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS AND WIND GUSTS WILL BEGIN FOR OKEECHOBEE...MARTIN...
SOUTHERN OSCEOLA AND SAINT LUCIE COUNTIES BY SUNRISE...AND POSSIBLY
SPREAD NORTH INTO INDIAN RIVER AND SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTIES BY MID
MORNING.

...TORNADO IMPACTS...
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA UNTIL
11 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING. THE THREAT OF TORNADOES WILL SLOWLY GIVE
WAY TO THE ACTUAL WIND THREAT ASSOCIATED WITH WILMA AS THE MORNING
PROGRESSES. HOWEVER...UNTIL THAT TIME...A HIGH THREAT FOR TORNADOES
WILL PERSIST.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR OSCEOLA...ORANGE...SEMINOLE...
LAKE...VOLUSIA...AND NORTH BREVARD COUNTIES UNTIL 11 AM. DOPPLER
RADAR ESTIMATES INDICATE A LARGE AREA HAS RECEIVED ONE TO THREE
INCHES OF RAIN WITH A FEW SPOTS RECEIVING TOTALS IN EXCESS OF SIX TO
EIGHT INCHES SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE
TO TWO INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS WITH TWO TO FOUR INCHES
OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL POSSIBLE IN A FEW LOCATIONS THIS MORNING. ONCE
HURRICANE WILMA MOVES OFFSHORE...THE RAINFALL WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH
BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAIN AMOUNTS WILL FURTHER AGGRAVATE ANY ONGOING STANDING
WATER AND FLOODING PROBLEMS...AND LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FLOODING OF
STREETS...INTERSECTIONS AND OTHER POORLY DRAINED AREAS.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
A STORM TIDE OF 2 OR 4 FEET IS POSSIBLE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER OF
WILMA MOVES OFFSHORE. EXTREMELY ROUGH SURF...BEACH EROSION...AND
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG ALL OF EAST CENTRAL
FLORIDA BEACHES AS WILMA MOVES OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC.

FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE...A STORM SURGE OF 5 TO 7 FEET ABOVE CURRENT LAKE
LEVELS IS EXPECTED FROM EARLY MORNING TO AROUND NOON OVER AREAS
INSIDE THE DIKE FROM LAKEPORT TO CLEWISTON...WITH 2 TO 5 FEET ABOVE
CURRENT LAKE LEVELS ELSEWHERE FROM BUCKHEAD RIDGE SOUTH TO
LAKEPORT...AND FROM CLEWISTON THROUGH PORT MAYACA. THIS WILL CAUSE
SOME FLOODING OF LOW AREAS OUTSIDE HOOVER DIKE PROTECTION INCLUDING
TORRY...KREAMER AND RITTA ISLANDS AND SOME ACCESS ROADS. THE LAKE
LEVEL ON SUNDAY WAS 15.6 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
THIS IS A DANGEROUS HURRICANE. MARINERS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY NWS MELBOURNE
AROUND 9 AM...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.

A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT CAN BE
VIEWED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB PAGE AT...
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MLB AND CLICKING ON WILMA LOCAL INFO.

$$

DWS

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