Jungle Jim has put the goggles on. Where's his life jacket and helmet? :-)
I'll be alright, I've been through more than my share of big storms. I'd love to go down to see how the water levels are holding up in the waterway but am afraid I'd have to walk back up a bunch of stairs if the power goes off.
...Wilma stronger and approaching the southwest coast of Florida...
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys... including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay...along the Florida West Coast from Longboat Key southward... and along the Florida East Coast from Titusville southward... including Lake Okeechobee.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida West Coast north of Longboat Key to Steinhatchee river...and along the Florida East Coast north of Titusville to St. Augustine.
A tropical storm watch remains in effect along the northeast coast of Florida from north of St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciudad de la Habana...la Habana...and Pinar del Rio. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Isle of Youth. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the province of Matanzas. These warnings and watches will likely be discontinued later this morning.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the northwestern Bahamas...including the Abacos...Andros Island...Berry Islands... Bimini...Eleuthera...Grand Bahama Island...and New Providence.
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 25.5 north...longitude 82.4 west or about 55 miles southwest of Naples Florida.
Wilma is moving toward the northeast near 20 mph and an increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24 hours. On this track the center will make landfall along the southwestern Florida coast in a few hours and cross the southern Florida Peninsula later today. However this is a large hurricane and strong winds will be experienced well before the arrival of the center.
Data received from an Air Force hurricane hunter plane indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph...with higher gusts. Wilma is a strong category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No significant change in strength is expected before landfall. Some weakening is likely as Wilma crosses the southern Florida Peninsula today.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 950 mb...28.05 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 12 to 18 ft above normal tide levels is possible along the southwest Florida coast near and to the south of where the center of Wilma makes landfall. Storm surge flooding of 5 to 9 ft above normal is possible in the Florida Keys and Florida Bay... as well as in Lake Okeechobee. Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet is possible along the extreme southeastern coast of Florida.
Wilma is expected to produce 4 to 6 inches of rainfall...with maximum amounts of 10 inches...across central and southern Florida...including the Florida Keys. Western Cuba may see additional rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches through today. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible over portions of the northwest Bahamas.
Large swells generated by Wilma will continue to affect portions of the northeastern Gulf Coast from the Florida Keys northward today.
Tornadoes are possible over portions of the central and southern Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys today.
Repeating the 5 am EDT position...25.5 N... 82.4 W. Movement toward...northeast near 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds...125 mph. Minimum central pressure... 950 mb.
Intermediate advisories will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 7 am EDT and 9 am EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 11 am EDT.
Forecaster Pasch