[Adfunk Keyword] Hurricane Wilma

[Muhammad]

ATTENTION: Information on Wikipedia may not be current or applicable to your area. Residents of areas affected by Hurricane Wilma are advised to seek advice and information from local authorities through television and radio, and official weather forecast websites (links below).


This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Current storm status Category 3 hurricane
As of: 8 pm EDT October 24 (0000 UTC Oct. 25)
Location: 350 miles (560 km) S of Cape Hatteras, NC
Wind speed: 125 mph (200 km/h)
Pressure: 955 mbar (28.20 inHg)
Movement: northeast at 38 mph (60 km/h)
See detailed information below.

Hurricane Wilma is the 21st named storm, twelfth hurricane, and sixth major hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It is also the third Category 5 hurricane of the season, beating the records set by the 1960 and 1961 seasons.

At its peak, it was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, with the lowest atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere of 882 millibars (26.05 inHg) at sea level, a record previously held by Hurricane Gilbert. Wilma is the third Category 5 hurricane to develop in October, the other two being Hurricane Mitch of 1998 and Hurricane Hattie of 1961. It is the second 21st storm in any season, and formed nearly a month earlier than the only previous 21st storm (in 1933).

Wilma is currently located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The storm is expected to track northeast, possibly making another landfall somewhere in Atlantic Canada as a tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane.

Wilma has made several landfalls, with the most destructive effects felt in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Cuba and Florida. At least 33 deaths have been reported, and insured damage is estimated at between $8-12 billion (about $6-9 billion in the US) and total damage likely to be in the $15-20 billion range, which would rank Wilma among the top 10 costliest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic.



Duration Oct. 15, 2005 - present
Highest winds 175 mph (280 km/h) sustained
Damages $8-12 billion (insured estimate)
Fatalities 25 direct, 8 indirect (to date)
Areas affected Jamaica, Haiti, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Honduras, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Florida, Bahamas
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season


Storm history

In the second week of October 2005, a large and complex area of low pressure developed over the western Atlantic and eastern Caribbean with several centers of thunderstorm activity. This area of disturbed weather southwest of Jamaica slowly organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-four on October 15.

It reached tropical storm strength at 5 am EDT October 17 (0900 UTC), making it the first storm ever to use the 'W' name since alphabetical naming began in 1950, and tying the record for most storms in a season with 1933. Moving slowly over warm water with little wind shear, it strengthened steadily and became a hurricane on October 18. This made it the 12th hurricane of the season, tying the record set in 1969.


Hurricane Wilma began to intensify rapidly during late afternoon on October 18 around 4 pm EDT. Over a 10 hour period Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a 78 mbar (2.30 inHg) pressure drop. In a 24-hour period from 8 am EDT October 18 (1200 UTC) to the following morning, the pressure fell 90 mbar (2.65 inHg). In this same 24-hour period, Wilma strengthened from a strong tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds to a powerful Category 5 hurricane with 175 mph (280 km/h) winds. (In comparison, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 – the previous recordholder for lowest Atlantic pressure – recorded a 78 mbar (2.30 inHg) pressure drop in a 24 hour period for a 3 mbar/h pressure drop.) This is a record for the Atlantic basin and is one of the most rapid deepening phases ever undergone by a tropical cyclone anywhere on Earth. The current record holder is Super Typhoon Forrest in 1983. [1]

With Hurricane Wilma, 2005 became the first year on record to host three category 5 storms in the Atlantic basin (the other two being Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita).

During its intensification on October 19, the eye's diameter shrank to as small as 1.5 to 2.0 nautical miles, which may be the smallest eye recorded in a tropical cyclone. [2]

Quickly thereafter, Wilma set a record for the lowest pressure ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane when its central pressure dropped to 884 mbar (26.10 inHg) at 8 am EDT (1200 UTC) on October 19, then dropped again to 882 mbar (26.045 InHg) three hours later before rising slowly in the afternoon (while remaining a Category 5 hurricane). In addition, at 11 pm EDT that day (0300 UTC October 20), Wilma's pressure dropped again to 894 mbar (26.40 inHg) – as the storm weakened to a Category 4 with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). Wilma was the first hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin to have a central pressure below 900 mbar (26.58 inHg) while at Category 4 intensity (in fact, only two other recorded Atlantic hurricanes have ever had lower pressures even at this point).


Note that while Wilma was the most intense hurricane (i.e. a tropical cyclone in Atlantic, Central Pacific or Eastern Pacific) ever recorded, there have been many more intense typhoons in the Pacific (see link in the next section). Super Typhoon Tip is the most intense tropical cyclone on record at 870 mbar (25.69 inHg).


On October 21, Hurricane Wilma made landfall on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula as a powerful category four hurricane, with winds in excess of 150 mph. The hurricane's eye first passed over the island of Cozumel, and then made an official landfall near Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo around midnight on October 22 EDT with winds near 140 mph. Portions of the island of Cozumel experienced the calm eye of Wilma for several hours with some blue skies and sunshine visible at times. The eye slowly drifted northward, with the center passing just to the west of Cancún, Quintana Roo. Some portions of the Yucatán Peninsula experienced hurricane force winds for well over 24 hours. The hurricane began accelerating in the early morning hours of October 23, exiting the NE tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and entering the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 storm.


Despite significant wind shear in the Gulf, Hurricane Wilma regained some strength before making a third landfall just north of Everglades City, Florida, near Cape Romano, at 6:30 am EDT October 24 (1030 UTC) as a Category 3 hurricane. The reintensification of Hurricane Wilma was due to its interaction with the Gulf Loop Current. At landfall, Wilma had sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). Over the Florida peninsula, Wilma weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane, and exited Florida and entered the Atlantic at that strength about six hours later.

Unexpectedly, Wilma regained strength over the Gulf Stream and once again became a Category 3 hurricane north of the Bahamas and regained all the strength it lost within 12 hours.
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Current storm information


As of 8 pm EDT October 24 (0000 UTC October 25), the center of the large eye of Hurricane Wilma was over water in the Atlantic Ocean near 30.2°′ N 76°′ W or about 350 miles (560 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Wilma is racing northeastward at 38 mph (60 km/h) and has remained at Category 3 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale with sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). The minimum central pressure is 955 mbar (28.20 inHg). Some gradual additional weakening is expected due to wind shear (although such has not transpired thus far - it has actually strengthened and has a chance at reaching Category 4 intensity in the next few hours), as Wilma continues to track in a northeast direction toward Atlantic Canada.

Storm surges should subside as Wilma moves away from Florida as conditions gradually improve.

The current track takes Wilma northward towards Atlantic Canada, where landfall is possible late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday. While it is expected that Wilma will be extratropical by then, it should still be at least a strong tropical storm-strength system, and it could easily still be a Category 1 hurricane at that time.

* For information, see the NHC's latest public advisory on Hurricane Wilma and the Canadian Hurricane Centre's latest information statement on Hurricane Wilma.

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Watches and Warnings


* No warnings or watches are currently in effect, however watches and warnings may have to be issued for Atlantic Canada in the next few hours, depending on how quickly Wilma is expected to become extratropical.

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Preparations

Quintana Roo government officials declared a red alert on the evening of Wednesday, October 19. Classes have been suspended in the state's northern municipalities and residents of coastal areas have been advised to take refuge further inland; tourists in the resort city of Cancún and its adjacent islands have been told to return to their places of origin or head inland. In neighboring Yucatán, classes have also been suspended in 18 coastal municipalities and preparations are underway for a possible evacuation of threatened areas. [3]

In Nicaragua, civil organizations were ordered to make hurricane preparations.

In El Salvador, the National Emergency Committee has been activated.

In Cuba, there are preparations to evacuate four western provinces, including the Isle of Youth [4]. In all, over 368,000 people were ordered to evacuate. [5].

A mandatory evacuation of residents is in effect for the Florida Keys in Monroe County. However, reports suggest that as many of 80% of residents may have ignored the evacuation order. County offices, schools and courts will be closed Monday. About 300 Keys evacuees are being housed at the Monroe County shelter at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County [6].

Also in Florida, all Collier County public schools were declared closed for Friday, October 21. The schools were closed to "allow parents and staff to prepare for the storm and potential evacuation. The closings will also allow for needed preparation of schools to be used as hurricane shelters." [7]

Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers has completed an evacuation; classes have been canceled until further notice. Eckerd College in St. Petersburg has finished an evacuation, which was scheduled to end by 5 pm EDT on October 20. All campuses of the University of South Florida are closed on Monday, October 24. The University of Tampa will be closed on that date. All campuses of the University of Central Florida are also closed on that date.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for all Collier County residents living West or South of US 41. Other areas included in the mandatory evacuation are Seagate, Parkshore, The Moorings, Coquina Sands, Olde Naples, Aqualane Shores, Port Royal and Royal Harbour. Hurricane shelters in the area are opened. Curfews are already in place for several cities in Lee and Collier counties. [8]
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Impact

Some preliminary information is already starting to come in from the first affected areas. Mudslides have been triggered from the outer bands in Haiti, killing at least 12 people. [9]

Wilma claimed one death in Jamaica as a tropical depression on Sunday, October 16. It pounded the island for a third day on October 18, 2005, flooding several low-lying communities and triggering mudslides that blocked roads and damaged several homes. [10] Almost 250 people are in emergency shelters on the island. [11]

At least 10 deaths have been reported in Mexico. Two were in the Playa del Carmen area due to a gas explosion caused by the strong winds. Four deaths have also been reported on Cozumel and another in Cancún due to wind blowing a window out. Another death was reported in the state of Yucatán due to a falling tree, but no other details were available. Two other deaths were reported, but no other details could be determined. [12] [13]

In Cuba, a bus carrying evacuees crashed, killing four people, including three foreign tourists. [14]

At least 6 Hurricane Wilma-related deaths have been reported in the USA. CNN reports that a Coral Springs man was killed by a falling tree, according to a Broward County official. [15] Three more direct deaths have been reported in Florida, one in rural Collier County and two in Palm Beach County, all due to wind-blown debris. Wilma was also blamed for two indirect deaths, a woman who died in an automobile accident while evacuating and a man who died of a heart attack while walking in the storm. [16]

Direct deaths indicate those caused by the direct effects of the winds, flooding, tornadoes, storm surge or oceanic effects of Wilma. Indirect deaths indicate those caused by hurricane-related accidents (including car accidents, fires or other incidents), as well as clean-up and evacuation incidents and health issues (i.e. poisoning, illnesses, waiting for help).
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Mexico

Information on damage remains sketchy. However, according to pictures and television reports, there is extensive structural damage throughout the Cancún area, as well as significant flooding and many downed trees and power lines and scattered debris. Several homes had also collapsed. Rainfall amounts in excess of 23 inches (590 mm (reported on Isla Mujeres, 1,637mm, three times what Hurricane Gilbert dropped)) were reported in several areas. [17] One gymnasium used as a shelter actually lost its roof, which forced the evacuation of 1,000+ people staying there. [18]

The Governor of Quintana Roo, Félix González, said in an interview: "Never in the history of Quintana Roo have we seen a storm like this." [19]

On Cozumel, the damage is extensive, but not as catastrophic as originally feared according to a witness, with many broken windows, fallen trees and power lines but less in the way of structural damage.

Communication is limited at this point as telephone and electric services are completely out in the affected areas. There have also been extensive reports of looting of many businesses in the Yucatán (primarily during the calm period of the eye of the storm), particularly in Cancun. [20]

Insured damage in Mexico is estimated at between $1-3 billion, which would likely translate to $2-5 billion in total damage. [21]
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Cuba

Coastal flooding was reported in many areas due to Wilma's storm surge and flooding from the outer bands, particularly around Havana. Over 250 homes were heavily flooded and rescuers required scuba gear, inflatable rafts and amphibious vehicles to reach the most severely flooded areas. [22] The city of Havana was also without power and wind damage was reported as a result of winds up to 85 mph (140 km/h). [23]
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Florida

Early reports suggest the damage from Wilma is extensive and widespread over South Florida due to winds and flooding. Key West is under 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 metres) of water from the storm surge, and major flooding was reported throughout the Keys.

More than 3.2 million homes, or about 6 million people, are currently without electricity, and many windows were knocked out of high-rise buildings, roofs were torn off buildings and many mobile homes were destroyed. In addition, even while the center of Wilma was still a long way away from Florida, its effects were already being felt with its expansive outer bands. Flooding was reported in several areas, particularly in Broward County. Some damage was reported. [24] The damage in Fort Lauderdale has been described as the worst in at least 55 years.

One section of the roof of Kennedy Space Center was stripped away by Wilma's winds, despite being over 150 miles (240 km) north of the center of the storm.

Current insured damage estimates range between $6-9 billion in Florida, which would likely result in a total cost of $10-15 billion in the state. [25]

Over 3,000 National Guardsmen have been mobilized, and thousands more are on alert. [26]
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Economic impact

Orange juice futures reached the highest level in six years on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, closing up 2.9 cents at $1.118 per pound. Wilma's potential for damage to orange trees in Florida could have an impact on several upcoming growing cycles. This is compounded by problems caused last year by Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne, which devastated Florida's orange crop, destroying many groves entirely. [27]


As dynamic models have moved the storm's track east over Florida, oil futures eased as worries of another direct hit on the oil producing regions of the Gulf of Mexico subsided.

The NFL has moved up its regular-season game between Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins to 7pm on Friday, October 21 in preparation of the hurricane. The NCAA has postponed two college football games scheduled in south Florida on Saturday, October 22. Georgia Tech vs. University of Miami has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 19. West Virginia vs South Florida has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 3. The NHL has rescheduled its Saturday, October 22 regular-season game between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers to Monday, December 5.

The economic impact isn't limited to the United States, however. The popular Mexican resort towns of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Cancún all suffered significant damage from Wilma, causing major loss of tourism income.



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Posted by Muhammad to Adfunk Keyword at 10/25/2005 12:51:00 AM