Wilma NOW impressing me...

[Anonymous]

With Hurricane Wilma...I was impressed here:::


I took an hour to two hour nap yesterday afternoon, planning to awake to a monster...but I have not really been impressed all day. Compare the image above to this:::


EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY Dangerous Category 4...but it could be doing better IMO.

[Huckster]

It could be doing better if conditions either internally or externally were more favorable. The storm itself is not holding back. There's obviously something limiting further intensification right now.

[FunkMasterB]

If I was anywhere near the Yucatan coast, I'd be impressed.

Yes, it's a weaker storm than it used to be.

That eye can still contract, however. It's a battle between shear, and a contracting eye. In any case, I'm glad I'm nowhere near there.

[BReb]

But the ironic thing is, when Wilma was the strongest hurricane in recorded Atlantic history, there were tropical force winds 10 miles from the eye. It was a ridiculoulsly small area of hurricane force winds. I wish I had saved the wind field graphic back then.

Now the area of hurricane force winds is much larger.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tr ... _wind.html

I really think some studies need to be done about Wilma while she was at 882 mb, blowing 175 mph and yet there were tropical storm-force winds 10 miles away. That's something I have NEVER seen before, I doubt anyone has.

[skysummit]

But the ironic thing is, when Wilma was the strongest hurricane in recorded Atlantic history, there were tropical force winds 10 miles from the eye. It was a ridiculoulsly small area of hurricane force winds. I wish I had saved the wind field graphic back then.

Now the area of hurricane force winds is much larger.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tr ... _wind.html

I really think some studies need to be done about Wilma while she was at 882 mb, blowing 175 mph and yet there were tropical storm-force winds 10 miles away. That's something I have NEVER seen before, I doubt anyone has.

Like someone said....a big tornado.

[bahamaswx]

It's not really shear inhibiting her. It's more or less the dry air to her NW diminishing her source of moisture, and the fact that her western inflow is entirely over the Yucatan.

[skysummit]

Boy those were INSANE cloud tops in that first image.

[FunkMasterB]

It's not really shear inhibiting her. It's more or less the dry air to her NW diminishing her source of moisture, and the fact that her western inflow is entirely over the Yucatan.

Agreed. I shouldn't have said sheer.

[markymark8]

Looks like she will steadily weaken here on out. We have seen this dealio before. Wilma bombed out real quick like Rita did and once she goes thru a ERC they never can get their act together. I honestley believe even though we dont have the scientific evidence yet that if a storm gets too strong it can only destroy itself. I really think if a storms pressure gets insaneley low and have to make itself go thru ERCS it seems that no matter what the conditions are there is no way it can reform their inner core as perfect as when they peak. I hope we can answer this in the near future. There has not been many Hurricanes that had their pressure below 900mbs on record. I think it would be real interesting to have real scientific evidence on why these massive storms that strengthen sooooo fast can fall apart so quick. If we could learn more about these monster Hurricanes cores then maybe later in the future we will know if we even have to worry about a landfalling Hurricane being a major cane when it hits or just a weak cat 1 with no big evacuations and alot less headaches.

[calidoug]

Looks like she will steadily weaken here on out. We have seen this dealio before. Wilma bombed out real quick like Rita did and once she goes thru a ERC they never can get their act together. I honestley believe even though we dont have the scientific evidence yet that if a storm gets too strong it can only destroy itself it seems alot quicker. I really think if a storms pressure gets insaneley low and have to make itself go thru ERCS it seems that no matter what the conditions are there is no way it can reform their inner core as good as when they peak. I hope we can answer this in the near future. There has not been many Hurricanes that had their pressure below 900mbs on record. I think it would be real interesting to have real scientific evidence on why these massive storms that strengthen sooooo fast can fall apart so quick. If we could learn more about these monster Hurricanes core then maybe later in the future we will know if we even have to worry about a landfalling Hurricane being a major cane when it hits or just a weak cat 1 with no big evacuations and alot less headaches.

You might want to look at the latest IR... black tops showing up again.

[curtadams]

The standard explanation is that to get one of these monsters conditions have to be absolutely perfect. 48 hours later, there's only a small chance they're still perfect. It's also true that a big storm cools the ocean and warms the upper atmosphere and that will cut its fuel.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

The blacks are coming back...I'm impressed with this storm right now!

[markymark8]

The standard explanation is that to get one of these monsters conditions have to be absolutely perfect. 48 hours later, there's only a small chance they're still perfect. It's also true that a big storm cools the ocean and warms the upper atmosphere and that will cut its fuel.

Makes sense. Thanks for the info. I hope 1 day we will know more about ERCS and cat 5s inner core not to mention the intensity life of each hurricane that develops.

[markymark8]

Yeah the latest infrared has the eyewall looking better for sure on the west side. The dark red has wrapped all the way around now to the west side where it was just dark orange an hour ago. If those little places of black to the east side of the storm start wrapping around on all sides of her then I would think she would start strengthening real quicklike guys. I still think her chances going back to a 5 are slimmer now but we shall see. Things always seem to change fast in the tropics.

[f5]

isn't this what happen with Katrina that NW flow coming of the US mainland disrupted her West side with the eye still intact?

[markymark8]

isn't this what happen with Katrina that NW flow coming of the US mainland disrupted her West side with the eye still intact?

yepp!!! about the same dealio to me.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

I think Wilma has been more impressive then Rita in Katrina put together. Why because she has been a poewrful hurricane for the time both of them where one.

[f5]

I think Wilma has been more impressive then Rita in Katrina put together. Why because she has been a poewrful hurricane for the time both of them where one.

Rita&Katrina didn't have a 2 mile wide eye thats the key.Wilma also looks like a midget compared to Katrina or Rita's size

[Wirbelsturm]

It's two mile-wide eye, 15 mile radius of hurricane force winds, extreme low pressure, and explosive strengthening makes Wilma top any hurricane I've ever heard of. This was a freak of nature!!!

[Normandy]

I think Wilma has been more impressive then Rita in Katrina put together. Why because she has been a poewrful hurricane for the time both of them where one.

Rita&Katrina didn't have a 2 mile wide eye thats the key.Wilma also looks like a midget compared to Katrina or Rita's size

Have u seen Wilma's windfield?