Im not quite getting this...

[Anonymous]

Which is worse...having a Cat 4/5 go through the Yucatan Channel, then hit Florida as a Cat 3. OR... having a Cat 4/5 hit the Yucatan, then hit Florida as a Cat 3?

To me...adding in a Cat 4/5 landfall on the Yucatan along with a Cat 3 landfall in the USA just adds more hell...I dont understand how the Yucatan is "saving Florida" as some say. We know it wont be a Cat 5 in Florida, and probably not a Cat 4...so whats better about it if it makes two devestating landfalls rather than one landfall...and the Yucatan has a Cat 4/5 hit?

[jax]

Which is worse...having a Cat 4/5 go through the Yucatan Channel, then hit Florida as a Cat 3. OR... having a Cat 4/5 hit the Yucatan, then hit Florida as a Cat 3?

To me...adding in a Cat 4/5 landfall on the Yucatan along with a Cat 3 landfall in the USA just adds more hell...I dont understand how the Yucatan is "saving Florida" as some say. We know it wont be a Cat 5 in Florida, and probably not a Cat 4...so whats better about it if it makes two devestating landfalls rather than one landfall...and the Yucatan has a Cat 4/5 hit?

they are suggesting that the Yucatan will deminish her strength.
I'll be surpised if Wilma is more than a minimal Cat 2 at landfall
in Florida.

[Blown Away]

The best scenerio to limit the damage assuming Wilma's not going to lose much strength and is going to hit FL is for Wilma to stay off the coast of the Yucatan and landfall E of Marco Island in the Glades. Everglades City will take a pounding, but the NE side of the storm will miss the SW FL coast populated areas and when Wilma reaches the E Fl coast hopefully no more than Cat 1 conditions will be felt.

[shawn67]

Which is worse...having a Cat 4/5 go through the Yucatan Channel, then hit Florida as a Cat 3. OR... having a Cat 4/5 hit the Yucatan, then hit Florida as a Cat 3?

To me...adding in a Cat 4/5 landfall on the Yucatan along with a Cat 3 landfall in the USA just adds more hell...I dont understand how the Yucatan is "saving Florida" as some say. We know it wont be a Cat 5 in Florida, and probably not a Cat 4...so whats better about it if it makes two devestating landfalls rather than one landfall...and the Yucatan has a Cat 4/5 hit?

Floyd:

You are right. Part of it is the darker side human nature (the self preservation side) they hope it will shred itself on the Yucatan so that it will be cat 1 or 2 so that their homes can be preserved.

Shawn

[curtadams]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

[Windtalker1]

Which is worse...having a Cat 4/5 go through the Yucatan Channel, then hit Florida as a Cat 3. OR... having a Cat 4/5 hit the Yucatan, then hit Florida as a Cat 3?

To me...adding in a Cat 4/5 landfall on the Yucatan along with a Cat 3 landfall in the USA just adds more hell...I dont understand how the Yucatan is "saving Florida" as some say. We know it wont be a Cat 5 in Florida, and probably not a Cat 4...so whats better about it if it makes two devestating landfalls rather than one landfall...and the Yucatan has a Cat 4/5 hit?

they are suggesting that the Yucatan will deminish her strength.
I'll be surpised if Wilma is more than a minimal Cat 2 at landfall
in Florida.

I'm sticking by my prediction as a Cat 3 at landfall exiting as a Cat 2 then as she races up the coast falls to a Cat 1.

[cjrciadt]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

I does not even take a major to cause a major lost of life. Cat1 Stan is responsible directly and indirectly for over 1200 deaths. You would not know if you did not come to Storm2k, because the media has not mentioned it at all.

[Terry]

I like to think (hope?) that most people right now are just thinking of the "Yucatan" as some area out there that may help to significantly weaken Wilma. I don't think that these people really want to wreck the kind havoc Wilma will certainly do to Mexicans, tourists, and properties.

[Nancy]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

So, you are saying that anyone who is watching a major hurricane closing in on their city should hope that the hurricane does not hit any other piece of land to weaken it, as that would be unfair. Ridiculous.

[shawn67]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

So, you are saying that anyone who is watching a major hurricane closing in on their city should hope that the hurricane does not hit any other piece of land to weaken it, as that would be unfair. Ridiculous.

Nope but don't get all excited if it happens because your good fortune is another tragedy and possible death

Shawn

[Skywatch_NC]

For ie. Katrina was a Cat 1 at landfall in south Florida and caused some deaths there...

Eric

[Windy]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

So, you are saying that anyone who is watching a major hurricane closing in on their city should hope that the hurricane does not hit any other piece of land to weaken it, as that would be unfair. Ridiculous.

It's not so much "any other piece of land" as "populated area". It isn't gracious to be happy that a storm is going to kill a lot of people you don't know instead of killing you. I know it's human nature to think "better them than me," but, well, no matter what your basis of morality (biblical, secular humanist, etc.), when most people sit down to think about it, nobody really admires that way of thinking.

[Tiny]

The best scenerio to limit the damage assuming Wilma's not going to lose much strength and is going to hit FL is for Wilma to stay off the coast of the Yucatan and landfall E of Marco Island in the Glades. Everglades City will take a pounding, but the NE side of the storm will miss the SW FL coast populated areas and when Wilma reaches the E Fl coast hopefully no more than Cat 1 conditions will be felt.

My parents home is in Everglades City............

[artist]

to those thinking the everglades would help to weaken this storm - the glades are hot shallow water that will only add fuel to Wilma. Yes - it MIGHT weaken her a tad but NOT to the extreme that some are suggesting - remember when Katrina crossed the everglades - she exploded as she exited!

[Tiny]

to those thinking the everglades would help to weaken this storm - the glades are hot shallow water that will only add fuel to Wilma. Yes - it MIGHT weaken her a tad but NOT to the extreme that some are suggesting - remember when Katrina crossed the everglades - she exploded as she exited!

Artist is right.

[Blown Away]

I get tired of people generalizing that all Americans think less of people from other countries. If Wilma was 200 miles from Miami and the path was going to take her ultimately to Pensacola. Posters from the Panhandle would discuss how much Wilma will weaken as it crosses the peninsula. Get rid of the chip!!!

[GalvestonDuck]

I agree with Mike.

It'd be one thing if Wilma made landfall on the YP and kept her from maintaining strength and hitting FL as a 3. I'm sure that, in some small but guiltgripped way, Floridians would be thankful that she didn't hit them as a major. But if you're still talking about a 3 at landfall in FL whether she hit the YP or not...that doesn't make sense. It's doubly bad.

[gilbert88]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

So, you are saying that anyone who is watching a major hurricane closing in on their city should hope that the hurricane does not hit any other piece of land to weaken it, as that would be unfair. Ridiculous.

It's not so much "any other piece of land" as "populated area". It isn't gracious to be happy that a storm is going to kill a lot of people you don't know instead of killing you. I know it's human nature to think "better them than me," but, well, no matter what your basis of morality (biblical, secular humanist, etc.), when most people sit down to think about it, nobody really admires that way of thinking.

Thank you very much. I understand some people from Florida are nervous and adrenaline sometimes tends to get in the way of common sense... I understand.

[dhweather]

I agree with Mike.

It'd be one thing if Wilma made landfall on the YP and kept her from maintaining strength and hitting FL as a 3. I'm sure that, in some small but guiltgripped way, Floridians would be thankful that she didn't hit them as a major. But if you're still talking about a 3 at landfall in FL whether she hit the YP or not...that doesn't make sense. It's doubly bad.

I think that being over the Yucatan would dramatically reduce the
storm surge that Wilma would bring to South Florida. That's no
consolation for the people in the Yucatan, however, I doubt that area is as
densely populated as south Florida.

[Nancy]

Unfortunately for many Americans Mexicans (or for that matter anybody not from the States) count a lot less than Americans. (Of course, it's better for anybody in FL, of course). I agree that the possibility of a large Cat 5 making a direct hit on the Yucatan and stalling near the coast is truly gruesome, perhaps even as bad as Katrina. It's sad to see people thinking of such a horrible event only in terms of the effect on Florida. It's like being relieved Andrew hit S FL because it made him weaker in Lousiana.

So, you are saying that anyone who is watching a major hurricane closing in on their city should hope that the hurricane does not hit any other piece of land to weaken it, as that would be unfair. Ridiculous.

Nope but don't get all excited if it happens because your good fortune is another tragedy and possible death

Shawn

Easy to say coming from Kansas, Shawn. No one is exited about tragedy and death. That statement sounds even more ridiculous than the first.