Twin States Weather Blog

Wilma - Strongest Atlantic Hurricane Ever

* The jaw-dropping intensification of Hurricane Wilma has made it the strongest hurricane in the history of the Atlantic Basin - an area that includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The minimum pressure of the hurricane is at 884mb, which is 4mb lower than Hurricane Gilbert. Wilma is a powerful Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 mph or perhaps higher.

* Hurricane Wilma will almost assuredly not have an impact on us. All available data suggests that the storm will move through the Yucatan channel, and eventually make landfall somewhere along the southern Florida peninsula. But, as we all know, there can be changes and surprises along the way. So, we'll continue to watch Wilma closely.

* Here's the official "VORTEX" report from the National Hurricane Center, indicating the lowest pressure ever recorded:

URNT12 KNHC 190835
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 19/08:00:30Z
B. 17 deg 03 min N
082 deg 20 min W
C. 700 mb 2082 m
D. NA kt
E. NA deg nm
F. 320 deg 166 kt
G. 221 deg 003 nm
H. 884 mb
I. 10 C/ 3073 m
J. 24 C/ 3043 m
K. 10 C/ NA
L. CLOSED
M. C4
N. 12345/ 7
O. 0.02 / 1 nm
P. AF308 0724A WILMA OB 16
MAX FL WIND 168 KT SE QUAD 06:10:20 Z

* Section H is the minimum central pressure, in this case, 884 mb. This reading still must be calibrated by the National Hurricane Center to make sure it's accurate.

posted by WTOK Weather Staff @ 11:32 AM