AdriansWeather.com

                     Hurricane Wilma 15-25 October 2005                             

Hurricane Wilma was a large and exceptionally intense hurricane that devastated portions of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and Southern Florida in October, 2005. During its life-cycle, Wilma produced the lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin (and Western Hemisphere), 882 mb (26.05 in). The hurricane also set numerous other records, including, fastest deepening of an Atlantic hurricane (90 mb in 24 hours), the smallest eye diameter(2 nautical miles) and was the fourth Category Five to develop within a single season. Wilma formed on October 17th from a disturbance in the Western Caribbean, southwest of Jamaica, and on October 18th, began a phenomenal strengthening phase. Within 24 hours, Wilma reached Category Five strength, with sustained winds of 185 mph and produced the lowest central pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, 882 mb. Over the next two days, Wilma moved slowly northwest and leveled off as a strong Category Four, with 150 mph winds, striking the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula on October 22nd and causing severe damage to Cancún and Cozumel. After pounding the Yucatán for 36 hours, a weakened Wilma turned to the north and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing a turn to the northeast and accelerating, Wilma passed north of Cuba and re-strengthened to a Category Three, with sustained winds of 125 mph, before landfall over Southwest Florida, near Cape Romano, on the 24th. Wilma crossed the Florida peninsula rapidly, exiting the east coast near Palm Beach as a Category Two. The exceptionally large size of Wilma's wind field produced hurricane conditions over virtually all of Southern Florida, with wind gusts in excess of 100 mph at most locations. Significant damage was reported in the larger metro areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, with severe window failures in many high-rise buildings. Wilma was responsible for 62 fatalities. The storm caused extended power outages for over three million residents in Florida. Total damage is estimated at $16–$20 Billion (2005 USD), mostly in the United States and Mexico. You can view wilma's tropical cyclone report from the NHC here.