[Reefland]

It is official, Wilma is the most powerful hurricane ever recorded with a pressure of 882mb and sustained winds of 175mph. Not only is it the most powerful, but Wilma also ties for the most hurricanes ever recorded, the next named tropical storm will be Alpha from the Greek Alphabet. I say next because surely we will see another in the next 45 days of hurrican season.

If you are in the Keys or any other part of southern Florida, heed the warnings and get out!

[Ninong]

Yes, this is certainly a scary looking hurricane! One little ray of hope is that the NHC is predicting that it could weaken all the way down to a Category 2 storm before making landfall in Florida (right in Scubadude's backyard again).

Here is the 5-day chart:



P.S. -- I'm getting so tired of hurricanes!

[Poseidon]

What happens if Wilma doesn't hang that right turn on the map? If she enters the gulfs warmer waters won't she gain intensity?

What in the world is bringing all these storms, and WHY are they so freakin STRONG!?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

What happens if Wilma doesn't hang that right turn on the map? If she enters the gulfs warmer waters won't she gain intensity?

Fortunately the surface water temps in the Gulf of Mexico are lower now than they were when Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita passed through. Also, the upper atmospheric conditions are less favorable right now to support a Category 5 or Category 4 storm. They expect Hurricane Wilma to weaken before she makes landfall.

Anything could happen, but the current computer predictions call for Wilma to make a sharp right turn and head for Florida.

What in the world is bringing all these storms, and WHY are they so freakin STRONG!?

Can you say "global warming?"

[Ninong]

Yes, I just double-checked and the hurricane season runs from June through November. So we have plenty of time left. They don't have any more regular names left, Wilma was the last name on the list. So now they will have to go to the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and so on.

Let's just hope we don't get to Omega!

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by Ninong

So we have plenty of time left.

Oh gee thanks I was worried that I wouldnt get my annual dosage of hurricane weather this year! I thought it ended the 30th of October...oh well. They are gonna start evacuating people down here tommorow morning.

[Poseidon]

Man Rocky, I guess your idea of a storm proof greenhouse wasn't so bad after all!

As far as the global warming, if we continue on this warmer path, will they have to add a Category 6? I sure hope not!

[cichlidfort]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Man Rocky, I guess your idea of a storm proof greenhouse wasn't so bad after all!

As far as the global warming, if we continue on this warmer path, will they have to add a Category 6? I sure hope not!

I don't know how much more evidence people need to know that hurricanes are becoming more common and more stronger because of global warming. These hurricanes start off the west coast of Africa and thrive off of 80 degree water temperatures. Since global warming has increased so has the water temperature thus more stonger hurricanes occur. Eventually there probably will be hurricanes that surpass the 200mph wind speed so yes in the future if global warming continues there will be another category.

[Reefland]

I often wondered this year if they would consider an additional category with some of the strong storms that we have seen. At which point does a storm reach a cat 4 and 5?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Reefland

At which point does a storm reach a cat 4 and 5?

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline, in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.

Category One Hurricane: Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricane Lili of 2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. Hurricane Gaston of 2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast.

Category Two Hurricane: Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Frances of 2004 made landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida as a Category Two hurricane. Hurricane Isabel of 2003 made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane.

Category Three Hurricane: Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan of 2004 were Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Florida and in Alabama, respectively.

Category Four Hurricane: Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. Hurricane Dennis of 2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.

Category Five Hurricane: Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.


P.S. -- Obviously the NHC hasn't updated this information to account for Hurricane Katrina, which is not only the costliest hurricane ever, it is the costliest disaster in U.S. history. And Hurricane Gilbert's 888 mb minimum pressure was beaten yesterday by Hurricane Wilma's 882 mb.

[Reefland]

Yeah it would seem that it is getting close to time to add a cat 6. Other cat increases are occuring between 20-25mph increases so maybe once we hit 181 we ought to go for a new category.

[Poseidon]

Boy reading that scale, I don't think it would matter if it was a 5 6 7 or anything, after 155 MPH sustained winds I don't think much would be left standing!

[Reefland]

You got a point there Mike.

[scubadude]

It seems this storm keeps moving more south for their prediction of landfall, while I dont want to see it hit anywhere I am kind of glad that it appears to be heading more towards the everglades area cuz there is pretty much nothing out there....maybe marco island or naples on the coast but theres not much inland.

[Samper]

Rocky or Rick....if either of you guys need to evac and wanna come up to Ar you know you are welcome.
I'd love to have ya at my home.

[ricksreef]

i'm climbing on my roof and tellin it to kiss my butt...

besides, even though it looks like it's gonna be a direct hit on me, it appears
it's gonna fizzle down to a weak cat 1 or even a tropical depression by the
time it hits the east coast.

[Ninong]

Fortunately for us (unfortunately for the people in the Yucatan), it's stalled over land right now and maximum sustained winds have dropped to 120 mph.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by ricksreef

i'm climbing on my roof and tellin it to kiss my butt...

Save a spot for me on the roof, and Ill bring the beer!

Everyone in S. Florida (heck the whole state) is starting to get this kind of attitude.

[ricksreef]

kewl, come on by, bro.
i'll need someone to hold my beer when i say 'watch this!' anyway.
(i'm thinking a ski rope and my batman cape should get me airborne)

[Ninong]

This site has a lot of links to photos taken by residents/tourists in Cozumel and Cancun showing the damage done by Hurricane Wilma. Just scroll down for the picture links.