Wilma #6: Landfall near Ft Myers on Monday

[Josephine96]

The following post is NOT an official forecast and should not be used as such. It is just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. It is NOT endorsed by any professional institution including storm2k.org For Official Information please refer to the NHC and NWS products.

EXPERIMENTAL HURRICANE FORECAST
HURRICANE WILMA
NJN WEATHER CENTER
925 AM SUN OCT 23RD 2005

Hurricane Wilma is over GOM waters now and beginning to accelerate as she nears Florida. Max winds remain at 100 mph

She could strengthen a little before a SW Florida landfall and would only need 11 more mph to become a Category 3.

Wilma gave Mexico a beating. Dropping estimates of close to 64 inches of rain in some areas, and destroying parts of the hotel district from Cancun to Cozumel. Her winds peaked near 175 mph on her approach before she weakened some.

Now focus shifts to Florida, specifically Central and South Florida. Wilma's windfield should expand she continues to approach, this could then cause her hurricane force winds or at least her stronger tropical storm force winds to impact Central Florida's southern counties {Polk, Osceola, Brevard}

Brevard County's mobile home residents are under a mandatory evac order as of 10am today. Schools are also closed Monday in Polk and Brevard counties.

Wilma's winds will be potentially damaging, especially in the areas still recovering from last years' hurricanes. There is also an increasing threat for tornadoes across Central and South Florida.

My official forecast has her coming in a bit further north. I say somewhere around the Ft. Myers area, then accelerating NE across the state, exiting as a Category 1 late Monday.

Here's my experimental outlook on Wilma:
Today: Strengthening some. West coast on alert. Max winds: 105 mph
Monday: Making landfall early, spreading TS and hurricane force winds across Central and South Florida. Max winds: 110 mph
Tuesday: Well into the North Atlantic. Max winds: 65 mph
Wednesday:Nearing Canada. Max winds: 55 mph
Thursday: Fizzling out. Max winds: 40 mph

[DIDDLESBABE]

Josephine - I sure hope you are a little bit off on your predictions -
I am in Ft. Myers, so I would like a lot more South !!!

We are just watching and waiting.

[Josephine96]

Not a prob Diddles.. I'm sure you and every other Ft Myers person on this board hopes I'm incorrect

[wxwatcher2]

Careful, going out on a limb like that Miss Josehphine..........the winds might get you!

I'm just so ready for this storm to come and go already!!!

I think it stays South near Marco Island but with much rain and wind to the North as Wilma crosses the lake and exits near Vero Beach

[AZRainman]

What are you basing this forecast on when the most all models are trending farther south

[Josephine96]

I just can't see it making landfall that far south.. I see it going a little further north right before it comes in.. kinda like what Charley did last year..

[WeatherEmperor]

I just can't see it making landfall that far south.. I see it going a little further north right before it comes in.. kinda like what Charley did last year..

Hmm...interesting. Alright Ill quote you on that(with your permission of course). Ill save this quote to my desktop and revisit it later after Wilma makes landfall and see. Is that alright

<RICKY>

[Josephine96]

go right ahead Ricky.. and if it happens.. That will be 2 questionable calls in a row that I got right

[cape_escape]

Chalk me up as one who hopes your wrong!

[gtalum]

I just can't see it making landfall that far south.. I see it going a little further north right before it comes in.. kinda like what Charley did last year..

harley came in from a completely different angle and went in SOUTH of where predicted.

Wilma is right on track to come in south of Marco Island. She's not going to break through the cold front.