Wilma the Witch: Pounds the Yucatan

When Wilma leaves the Yucatan Peninsula, it will emerge as a category one or two, considering the present models. This still remains as a powerful storm, and renewed strengthening could occur.

On the heels of Wilma a new tropical depression is forming, and we may be learning the alpha designations for the first time in the history named hurricanes.

From the NOAA website:


AT 4 AM CDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED INLAND OVER NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN NEAR LATITUDE 20.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST ABOUT 25 MILES...45 KM SOUTHWEST OF CANCUN AND ABOUT 430 MILES...690 KM...SOUTHWEST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA.WILMA IS STATIONARY BUT A GRADUAL NORTHWARD DRIFT SHOULD BEGIN LATER TODAY. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE WILMA WILL CONTINUE TO SEVERELY POUNDING PORTIONS OF THE EXTREME NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN PENINSULA ALL DAY TODAY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED NEAR 125 MPH...205 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS NOW A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TODAY WHILE WILMA IS OVER LAND. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UPTO 200 MILES...325 KM.