It's true.
In fact, some of the weather watchers at Storm2K.org are insisting that Wilma should be upgraded to Category 4, based on 155 mph winds found by the hurricane hunter planes. (You have to multiply these "flight level" winds by some factor to get wind speeds near the surface, which is what the category numbers are based on. Cat 4 starts at 131 mph.) Storm2K user Typhoon asks:
Why does the NHC refuse to increase the intensity further? If one more recon pass confirms that Wilma is much stronger, they will have to. I suppose they're convinced that the unique feature that had this incredible wind speed is temporary and is not indicative of anything else that is happening, and/or that they don't think the winds are mixing down to the surface as they normally do.
But another user is dumbfounded:
... they shouldn't be reluctant to the fact that based on what recon data has been showing recently could very well move this hurricane up to a possible Cat4 status! They have made no mention of this at all, and i find that to be preposterous when dealing with so many peoples lives out there!
The hurricane center disagrees with this assessment, saying the 155 mph winds "were likely associated with transient mesoscale features," not indications of Wilma's strength. Expect this controversy to continue for a looooooooong time.
