The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season had several destructive hurricanes. In fact, 4 of the hurricanes ended up being category 5 hurricanes. Hurricanes Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma achieved category 5 status. Wilma was the final destructive hurricane of the 2005 season. In addition, Wilma is still one of the strongest Atlantic Hurricanes.
October is usually a busy month concerning hurricane activity in the Atlantic. October 2005 was no exception. In fact, it produced one of the strongest Atlantic Hurricanes in the modern era 1950-Present. That storm's name was Wilma.
In the Middle of October a tropical low developed in the Caribbean. Models quickly developed this low into a significant hurricane. The low was over very warm waters 86-90 degrees. There was also no wind shear and the atmosphere was rich in moisture. It did not take long for this low to quickly become a tropical storm. It was given the name Wilma.
On October 18th Wilma became a hurricane and began rapid deepening. By the end of the night Wilma had become a major hurricane. The next day Wilma became a category 5 hurricane. In a 30 hour time period Wilma went from a category 1 to a category 5 monster. The pressure dropped 100 millibars going from 982 millibars to 882 millibars. The winds went from 85-90 to 185 mph.
Wilma's pressure of 882 millibars broke 1988's Hurricane Gilbert's record of lowest pressure in an Atlantic Hurricane at 888 millibars. Wilma to this stay still holds the record for lowest pressure in an Atlantic Basin Hurricane.
By this time Wilma was close to Mexico. Land interaction and an eyewall replacement cycle caused Wilma to loose some strength. However, Wilma was still a very high end category 4 hurricane when it made landfall near Cancun Mexico with winds 150-155 mph. After Striking Cancun Wilma made a slightly loop and made landfall again as a 135 mph category 4 hurricane.
Due to being over land Wilma weakened to a category two hurricane with winds 100-105 mph. The storm begin to set its sights on Florida A state that had been decimated by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne the previous year. In 2005 Florida had been hit with hurricanes Dennis, and Katrina. I was a student and in my class our professor had us look at charts and models to see what we think Wilma would restrengthen. As a Student I suggested that Wilma would probably become a high end category 3 or low end category 4 hurricane before striking southwest Florida.
Once over very warm waters Wilma begin to re-organize and restrengthen. Becoming a high end category 3 hurricane before landfall. Wilma struck Southwest Florida as a 125 mph category 3 hurricane. After exiting Florida Wilma was a 100 mph hurricane making it a category 2. Wilma went out to sea and became a major hurricane for the third time before eventually fizzling out in the Central Atlantic.
In Mexico Wilma caused $3.7 Billion dollars worth of damage making it one of the costliest Mexican Hurricanes on the Atlantic Side. In the United States Wilma caused $21.3 Billion dollars worth of damage to Florida.
Overall, Wilma caused 52 deaths and $25 Billion dollars worth of damage. Due to severe damage in Mexico and the USA the name Wilma was retired the following year.
Wilma was a historic storm due to its record lowest pressure and its destruction. This October will make 20 years since Wilma did its destruction. This one was for the record books. As I stated Wilma's pressure of 882 millibars broke Gilbert's record of 888 millibars in 1988. That record still stands today.
The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season had several destructive hurricanes. In fact, 4 of the hurricanes ended up being category 5 hurricanes. Hurricanes Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma achieved category 5 status. Wilma was the final destructive hurricane of the 2005 season. In addition, Wilma is still one of the strongest Atlantic Hurricanes.
October is usually a busy month concerning hurricane activity in the Atlantic. October 2005 was no exception. In fact, it produced one of the strongest Atlantic Hurricanes in the modern era 1950-Present. That storm's name was Wilma.
In the Middle of October a tropical low developed in the Caribbean. Models quickly developed this low into a significant hurricane. The low was over very warm waters 86-90 degrees. There was also no wind shear and the atmosphere was rich in moisture. It did not take long for this low to quickly become a tropical storm. It was given the name Wilma.
On October 18th Wilma became a hurricane and began rapid deepening. By the end of the night Wilma had become a major hurricane. The next day Wilma became a category 5 hurricane. In a 30 hour time period Wilma went from a category 1 to a category 5 monster. The pressure dropped 100 millibars going from 982 millibars to 882 millibars. The winds went from 85-90 to 185 mph.
Wilma's pressure of 882 millibars broke 1988's Hurricane Gilbert's record of lowest pressure in an Atlantic Hurricane at 888 millibars. Wilma to this stay still holds the record for lowest pressure in an Atlantic Basin Hurricane.
By this time Wilma was close to Mexico. Land interaction and an eyewall replacement cycle caused Wilma to loose some strength. However, Wilma was still a very high end category 4 hurricane when it made landfall near Cancun Mexico with winds 150-155 mph. After Striking Cancun Wilma made a slightly loop and made landfall again as a 135 mph category 4 hurricane.
Due to being over land Wilma weakened to a category two hurricane with winds 100-105 mph. The storm begin to set its sights on Florida A state that had been decimated by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne the previous year. In 2005 Florida had been hit with hurricanes Dennis, and Katrina. I was a student and in my class our professor had us look at charts and models to see what we think Wilma would restrengthen. As a Student I suggested that Wilma would probably become a high end category 3 or low end category 4 hurricane before striking southwest Florida.
Once over very warm waters Wilma begin to re-organize and restrengthen. Becoming a high end category 3 hurricane before landfall. Wilma struck Southwest Florida as a 125 mph category 3 hurricane. After exiting Florida Wilma was a 100 mph hurricane making it a category 2. Wilma went out to sea and became a major hurricane for the third time before eventually fizzling out in the Central Atlantic.
In Mexico Wilma caused $3.7 Billion dollars worth of damage making it one of the costliest Mexican Hurricanes on the Atlantic Side. In the United States Wilma caused $21.3 Billion dollars worth of damage to Florida.
Overall, Wilma caused 52 deaths and $25 Billion dollars worth of damage. Due to severe damage in Mexico and the USA the name Wilma was retired the following year.
Wilma was a historic storm due to its record lowest pressure and its destruction. This October will make 20 years since Wilma did its destruction. This one was for the record books. As I stated Wilma's pressure of 882 millibars broke Gilbert's record of 888 millibars in 1988. That record still stands today.
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