Wilma: annular?

[Typhoon]

Could Wilma become an annular hurricane? What does it mean to be an annular hurricane? I know that annular hurricanes have huge eyes. Did Katrina and Rita ever become annular? If they did, they didn't seem to last that way. I thought that annular hurricanes don't go through any more ERC's and aren't as susceptible to dry air intrusion, but perhaps I am mis-informed.

[Typhoon]

If this is what would be required to be an annular hurricane, then Wilma will NOT be one:

[txwatcher91]

Could Wilma become an annular hurricane? What does it mean to be an annular hurricane? I know that annular hurricanes have huge eyes. Did Katrina and Rita ever become annular? If they did, they didn't seem to last that way. I thought that annular hurricanes don't go through any more ERC's and aren't as susceptible to dry air intrusion, but perhaps I am mis-informed.

An annular hurricane has a large eye and has very little banding. Wilma could very well become annular.

[f5]

i know one thing annular hurricanes don't have a mile wide eye

[n o o d l z]

It's possible, but not probable. I think the stat is somewhere around 1% of Atlantic cyclones become annular...and its basically when a hurricane has a large eye, deep convection around that eye, and very little bands...and it can hold its intensity without going through ERCs.

[Brent]

It *could* but I don't think so. If this were say over the Middle of the Atlantic over warm waters days from anything then it would be more likely. Land interaction and then shear will probably keep it from becoming one.

[f5]

was Katrina annular as some say?also some describe Rita as annular

[cjrciadt]

was Katrina annular as some say?also some describe Rita as annular

Pretty darn close, I dont know offically

[LSU2001]

In one of his discussions Derek Ortt described Katrina as an Annular Hurricane. In my book that is pretty close to being official. However if you would like to read up on annular canes click the following link and do a little light reading.
Tim

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~kossin/articl ... arhurr.pdf

[f5]

Katrina was a buzzsaw thats about as annular as it gets

[quandary]

Wilma's not annular and I don't think it will be in its lifetime. At the beginning, it was one of those super-small core, pinhole eye systems. That's a different breed from the annulars altogether.

At this point, the environment is just not good enough to become annular. It might clear its eye out at some point and regain Cat 5 strength, but it is unlikely to be maintaining that any further than one more ERC.