Wilma main thread

[The Bug]

mavidal just called me

lost power at 6 a.m. He is fine.

Thinks he could have some damage to his roof.

Lots of trees down (not fallen) but broken limbs. His neighbor's tree took out the power line. It was dangling for a while but while we were on the phone he walked out side and theyh were both down.

Once the winds die down - he is going to crank up his generator and get online.

Said to say thanks for the prayers!

Suzi - thanks!

Just talked to my mom - the eye is about 43 miles from them to the South. She said that it feels like the windows are about to burst. The sounds are incredible. Theirhouse is boarded up so they are safe but she siad that she still has power! Yippee

[baseball mom]

Katie, Thanks for the updates on you, your family, and Mike. Will keep checking in on you guys through out the day. Orlando, I too hope that the one tree you've lost is the only thing you lose. Stay safe!

[ROLLTIDE]

...Large eye of Wilma over Palm Beach and Martin counties in
southeastern Florida...
...Hurricane force winds on back side of eye moving into
metropolitan areas of southeastern Florida...
...Remain indoors...
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida
Keys... including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay... along the
Florida West Coast from Longboat Key southward... and along the
Florida East Coast from Titusville southward... including Lake
Okeechobee.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida West
Coast north of Longboat Key to Steinhatchee river... and along the
Florida East Coast north of Titusville to St. Augustine.

At 11 am EDT...1500z...the tropical storm watch along the northeast
coast of Florida from north of St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach
has been discontinued.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of
Ciudad de la Habana...la Habana...and Pinar del Rio. A Tropical
Storm Warning is in effect for the Isle of Youth. A Hurricane
Watch remains in effect for the province of Matanzas. These warnings
and watches will likely be discontinued later today.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the northwestern
Bahamas...including the Abacos...Andros Island...Berry Islands...
Bimini...Eleuthera...Grand Bahama Island...and New Providence.

For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 11 am EDT...1500z...the center of Hurricane Wilma was located
near latitude 26.9 north... longitude 80.0 west or about 15
miles... 25 km... north-northeast of West Palm Beach Florida.

Wilma is moving toward the northeast near 25 mph...41 km/hr. A
continued increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24
hours. On this track the large eye will emerge off the East Coast
of the southern Florida Peninsula and move into the Atlantic later
today. However...Wilma is a large hurricane and the strongest
winds in the eyewall extend well away from the center. Persons are
urged not to venture outdoors during the relative calm of the eye
because winds will soon increase quite rapidly.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph...165 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Wilma is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
scale. Wind speeds about one category stronger could be
experienced in high rise buildings. Some continued gradual
weakening is likely as Wilma emerges off the southern Florida
Peninsula today.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 100 miles...160 km...
from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 260 miles...415 km.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 956 mb...28.23 inches.
Storm surge should be decreasing along the southwestern Florida
coast...the lower Florida Keys...and extreme Southeast Florida.
Storm surge flooding should begin to decrease in upper Florida Bay
later this afternoon through this evening. As Wilma exits
Florida...storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet is still possible
along the Palm Beach...Martin...and St. Lucie shorelines to the
north of the storm track. Storm surge of 5 to 8 feet is still
possible in Lake Okeechobee.

Wilma is expected to produce additional 2 to 4 inch rainfall amounts
over portions of central and southern Florida...with maximum storm
total amounts of 12 inches possible. Western Cuba may receive
additional 1 to 3 inch rainfall amounts over localized areas.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible over portions of the
northwestern Bahamas.

Tornadoes are possible over portions of the central and southern
Florida Peninsula today.

Repeating the 11 am EDT position...26.9 N... 80.0 W. Movement
toward...northeast near 25 mph. Maximum sustained
winds...105 mph. Minimum central pressure... 956 mb.

Intermediate advisories will be issued by the National Hurricane
Center at 1 PM EDT and 3 PM EDT followed by the next complete
advisory at 5 PM EDT.

Forecaster Knabb

[The Bug]

For updates on road closures - try this link. It is up to date on water in roads and other reasons for closures.

http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/traffic/index.html

[ROLLTIDE]

11am wind maps

[The Bug]

wow, Florida has been hit by 8 hurricanes in 15 months. And I wonder why we are all over hurricane season!

[tgenius]

Well I'm happy to report I made in through in one piece, thankfully! I too, lost power about 6am (still missing) Took a shower about an hour ago, thankfully the water heater still had some hot water in the tank. Theres alot of trees down around here, in fact, one fell RIGHT next to my car, and actually is lying against it..for me to get into my car, I'm gonna have to climb in via the passenger side. This was much more intense then katrina..and wind is still whipping pretty good around here in South Miami at 11:30am. My sliding glass door looked like it was going to just cave in the amount it was being pushed...thankfully it didn't. Water seeped in via all the windows so I put towels to soak up the water... Praying this is the last one of the season; Miami got lucky last year with the other 4... but our luck was up this time with Katrina and now Wilma coming through...

Roly

[Chris48]

They might want to extend that hurricane force wind line further north into brevard. I dont know how I still have power. My house is rocking, my neighbor has roof damage, my friends living along the intercoastal reported warter surge into his home an hour ago. official 114 mph wind gust meassure, i personaly meansure sustained winds of 88, gusing to 102. at that same time, my neighbors ched toubled away. Keep in mind, this is Melbourne and Palm Bay. I hope everyone else is ok further south.

Live local news stream can be found at
www.wftv.com

[soonermeteor]

what was her strength when she made landfall?

[The Bug]

125 mph Cat 3