BB FANS

The report I was just reading on the site in the original post would suggest that its actually likely to become both slower moving, and stronger again in the not too distant, before later weakening in the gulf of mexico. I dont think they are quite out of the woods yet in terms of catastrophic implications, certainly not where its going to hit first. It could be category 5 again by then.

Im getting quite good at interpreting what they say on that site.

It also says that in certain higher terrain areas in western Cuba, there could be some isolated rainfall that hits around the 40 inch mark. They expect an average of 10-20 inches generally though.

Scary stuff.

Florida may get off a bit lighter than they thought though, which I guess would be small relief to them given their recent hurricane based hammerings.

Yes, the storm is slow, a mere 5-7mph at present.

The Yucatan area is going to get seriously damaged - by 150mph winds. Sadly, the area is generally poor and the locals....they won't have left.

At this rate, it could be Tuesday until Wilma hits Florida...some think it still might go elsewhere.
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TV feeds. A lot of the feeds remain intermittant, but still...stay tuned, this is history.

*there is also a little 'disturbance' that a few people are watching, could be Tropical storm Alpha (yes, we might be onto the Greek Alphabet soon)

Calrissian: late...time to go

Six weeks of the season left, we'll probably be onto the russian alphabet at this rate

hmm

WESH TV is now running

live link: http://mfile.akamai.com/12890/live/reflector:38843.asx

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Wilma is pounding Cancun area, is barely moving now, and expected to eventually start moving towards Florida, with a hit by Monday.

its dead late...crazy time to be online...
but a Cat'4 storm is ripping an entire island to pieces for the best part of today.
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live audio (should play in most players)

http://ve3nsv.no-ip.org:8000/HurricaneW ... -14325.m3u

*they are desperately trying to get in contact with those on island of Cozumal, which was - amazingly, within the eye of storm for over 3 hours today - an unheard of situation to last so long.

Cal: sleepy, but entranced.

interesting to consider this....

- Update - Cozumel

* From: go2mexico at aol.com
* Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 14:01:38 -0400

Just received a telephone call from my good friend in Cozumel. 1:45pm est. Amazing she still had telephone service. Her family is safe but exhausted and very upset. She said there has been no let up since 9pm Thurs and the wind and rain have been relentless. She wanted to know when it was all going to end. She indicated this storm was much worse than Gilbert in 88. She is only getting weather updates by calling the states. It broke my heart to have to tell her they had several more hours before it finally starts to settle down. She will try to call later and I will try to get some specifics concerning damage reports.
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see http://stormcarib.com/reports/2005/mexico.shtml
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The Yucatan have just experienced for the last 48 hours what the people of New Orleans - and most other hurricane affected areas, do for just 3-6 hours.

Imagine 3-5 feet of rain, storm surge of 15-20 feet+waves of 15-60 feet, and howling 70-180mph winds...lasting for over a day. For those in the Yucatan, the world has ended.

Calrissian: knows that the world will focus on the USA, rather than the Yucatan.

Sunday October 23, 2005 10:46 AM
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Writer

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) - Hurricane Wilma drifted northward away from the Yucatan peninsula Sunday morning but furious winds and rain were still punishing Mexico's Caribbean coastline, where the storm killed at least seven people.

At 5 a.m. EDT Sunday, Wilma was a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 100 mph. The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted the storm would significantly pick up speed on Sunday and sideswipe Cuba before slamming into Florida.

Full story Guardian

Doesn't look too good for The Keys .Forecast storm surge of 8 - 13 ft arriving around high tide. Note that the highest point is said to be 11ft above sea level.
Wilma is picking up speed ,currently moving at around 10 MPH ,and currently level 2 Hurricane though will probably increase to level 3.

Also later in the week they think Wilma and Tropical storm Alpha will combine to give combined very heavy snow and rain to the Northern states.

Mexico looks like a bomb site with Hotels and shops ripped apart.
Video currently coming into Fox News shows the force of the storm.

Tropical storm Alpha according to Fox News has now reduced to a Depression though when it leaves land it could well increase again.

Hurricane Wilma could be moving at up to 25MPH when it makes land around 7AM local time. It's reported at 12 MPH but still Cat 2 at present.

Wilma now cat 3 120 MPH sustained winds moving at 20 MPH.
Wilma still off shore but hurricane force winds already hitting some parts. Fox says less than 3 hours before it makes land.

Thanks Larry, this is some storm



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KEY WEST, Fla. — Hurricane Wilma charged toward southwest Florida early Monday as a Category 3 storm, packing wind gusts of 120 mph, spawning tornadoes and churning up walls of seawater that could make thousands of Keys residents regret they defied evacuation orders.

Wilma was expected to bring a 17-foot storm surge when it makes landfall before dawn along the state's southwest corner, likely near Naples and Marco Island, National Hurricane Center (search) Director Max Mayfield said.

From FOX News

Wilma which is now in the Atlantic has strengthen again and is back to Cat 3 with 115MPH winds.
It hit Florida as Cat 3 and left as Cat 2 but as I said is strengthening in the warm water.

Looks like New York will get the remnants of Wilma in a couple of days when it becomes an extra-tropical storm.

It may head our way at the end of the week but will not resemble a hurricane at all by then.

They are talking about a new depression carrying loads of rain forming just of shore that'll also get obsorbed by Wilma as well as depression Alpha. They (Fox) say Wilma is still gaining strength.

Wilma+remants of 'Alpha' + the related low pressure to the west of New England = 'super storm'.

Well, thats what the some of the forecasters called it. In essense, its just a large Atlantic 'low' that is unusually big and quite strong.

Nothing much to worry about really.
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Cal: time to close this years storm season (probably)