Hurricane Wilma - Most Intense Atlantic Storm on Record
Storm Ties Record For Most Named Storms
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Hurricane Wilma Hurricane Wilma |
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Visitors were ordered out of the Florida Keys on Wednesday as Hurricane Wilma exploded into the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, with meteorologists warning that it could maintain devastating power as it crossed Florida from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic this weekend.
Wilma's top sustained winds reached 175 mph early Wednesday in the most rapid strengthening ever recorded in a hurricane, said Hugh Cobb, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. At the same time Tuesday, Wilma was only a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph
Its confirmed pressure readings Wednesday morning dropped to 882 millibars -- the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin, according to the hurricane center
Forecasters said Wilma was stronger than the devastating Labor Day hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935, the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall on record. Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 was the previous record holder for lowest pressure at 888 millibars, but it weakened before making landfall in Mexico
But Wilma wasn't expected to keep its record strength for long, as higher disruptive atmospheric winds in the Gulf of Mexico around the hurricane should weaken it before landfall, Cobb said. Gulf water temperatures are about 1 or 2 degrees lower than those in the Caribbean, which should inhibit its strength more, he added
It is still forecast to be a potentially devastating Category 3 or 4 hurricane at landfall, although experts acknowledge they have little skill in making strength forecasts
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Latest Advisory
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Wilma was centered about 325 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. It was moving west-northwest near 7 mph, forecasters said.
Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center in Miami show Wilma could hit western Cuba or the Yucatan Peninsula before heading into the Gulf of Mexico by Friday.
Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras are getting heavy rain bands for Wilma. Computer models show Wilma taking a sharp turn toward Florida and speeding up over the weekend as it will get caught in the westerlies, strong prevailing winds that generally blow toward the east, forecasters said.
Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi appeared out of Wilma's path, sparing them more devastation.
Max Mayfield, director of the hurricane center, cautioned southern Florida residents of a dangerous storm surge should Wilma hit the peninsula.
To avoid potential flooding from Lake Okeechobee, water managers began emptying Palm Beach County canals on Tuesday. But officials said previous hurricane preparations and dry weather in the past two weeks has left ample room for additional waters in the lake.
Ten to 15 inches of rain was expected in mountainous terrain in Cuba, with some areas getting up to 25 inches. Four to 12 inches was expected in the Caymans, Honduras, Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Wilma became this season's 12th hurricane on Tuesday, tying the record for most hurricanes in an Atlantic hurricane season since record-keeping began in 1851. It is also the 21st named storm, tying the record set in 1933.
The six-month hurricane season ends Nov. 30. So far this year, the Atlantic has had the equivalent of two normal hurricane seasons. There are 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes in the average season.
