Hurricane Wilma: Florida Keys evacuations begin
Image source: National Hurricane Center / NOAA
Via MSNBC.
Gathering strength at a record pace, Hurricane Wilma grew into the most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded Wednesday — a Category 5 monster with 175 mph winds that is expected to make landfall somewhere on Florida’s west coast by late Saturday and then possibly make course for New England.
The National Hurricane Center — which bases a storm’s strength on barometric pressure, not wind speed — said Wilma’s pressure had dropped to 882 millibars, the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Pressure drops as a hurricane gains strength, and the previous record was set by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 at 888 millibars.
Center meteorologist Hugh Cobb said Wilma also set a record for the most rapid strengthening ever recorded in a hurricane.
posted by Fergie @ 10/19/2005 10:07:00 AM
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