Keys Evacuations

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Mandatory Evacuations of all non residents of the Fla Keys starting at noon today

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Wilma's winds intensify to 175 mph as it becomes strongest hurricane ever


First evacuation ordered; Monroe County says all visitors and nonresidents must leave Keys beginning at noon Wednesday

By Ken Kaye
Staff Writer
Posted October 19 2005, 8:40 AM EDT


Hurricane Wilma's sustained winds reached 175 mph and its pressure dropped as low as 882 mb this morning, making it the strongest Category 5 hurricane on record with a projected path that crosses southern Florida from west to east.

"This is the lowest pressure on record for a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin," the National Hurricane Center said in a statement..

Hugh Cobb, a meteorologist at the hurricane center, said Wilma was stronger than the devastating Labor Day hurricane that hit the Keys in 1935, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to make landfall on record.

But Wilma wasn't expected to keep its record strength for long as higher disruptive atmospheric winds in the Gulf of Mexico around the hurricane should weaken it before landfall, Cobb said.

Hurricane Wilma appeared determined to make a dramatic right turn toward South Florida, possibly arriving with winds of up to 115 mph on Saturday, though the region could start feeling rain from its fringes on Friday.

In Monroe County, meanwhile, emergency management officials at 8:30 a.m. ordered all visitors and non-residents to begin leaving the Keys by noon Wednesday as Wilma continues on a forecast track that may bring it very close to the Florida Keys on Saturday, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.

Emergency management officials decided to move up the timetable for emergency actions because of the increased intensity of the storm, which is now a Category 5.

All visitors and non residents must leave the Keys starting at noon Wednesday, Monroe County said. Also, all state parks will be closed, residents and non-residents in recreational vehicles and high profile vehicles are also ordered to leave. Tolls on the Card Sound bridge will be suspended

Given the current forecast track, tropical storm force winds (39 mph and more) are expected to begin to impact the Keys late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Wilma, the season's record-tying 12th hurricane, intensified to a strong Category 5 storm Wednesday morning -- the fastest strengthening ever in an Atlantic hurricane -- and it was forecast to reach the Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon after marching northwest across the Caribbean.

The tightlly packed system, with hurricane-force winds extend only 15 miles out from the eye, was projected to accelerate toward Florida's Gulf Coast and strike near Naples by Saturday evening, potentially as a Category 4 with 145 mph winds after it weakens a bit

"Wilma is near its maximum potential intensity and further strengthening is not anticipated," the hurricane center said.

From there, Wilma might barrel just south of Lake Okeechobee and emerge in the Atlantic near Stuart, possibly retaining 115 mph strength, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County.

"There isn't much between Cape Sable and Miami to slow it down," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said. "Plus, you have Everglades water, which is very warm. We could easily be dealing with a Category 3 on this side of the state."

At 5 a.m. Wednesday, tropical storm force winds extended 160 miles out from the center.

Hurricane watches could be hoisted in South Florida by Thursday, and because of the threat of storm surge, an evacuation of coastal residents could be ordered on Thursday or Friday, emergency managers said.

If the current track holds, Wilma could be "Irene on steroids," said Tony Carper, Broward County's emergency management director, referring to Hurricane Irene, which in October 1999 left widespread flooding in South Florida.

"I don't think there's going to be quite as much rain as there was with Irene, but the winds are going to be stronger," he said. "It's almost the same track as Irene."

Under the forecast, South Florida would be on the storm's right, or more vicious side, and could see up to 7 inches of rain, starting as early as Friday morning. The winds would pick up on Saturday and rage through the night. Conditions would start clearing on Sunday.

"Now is the time for folks in South Florida to get their hurricane plan back out and dust it off, because the season's not over," Stewart said.