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Category 3 hurricane speeds toward coast
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/102305_fpg-05.gif) |
| Graphic courtesy of NHC |
| The tracking map for Hurricane Wilma issued at 11 p.m. Sunday shows the storm's predicted path over the next three days. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY - A major hurricane was on its way toward landfall somewhere in Collier County on Sunday night. Residents on both coasts of Florida prepared for a very rainy and windy Monday.
At 11 p.m. Sunday, Wilma's winds were reported by the National Hurricane Center, to be about 115 mph with higher gusts. Wilma was a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The NHC said little change in strength was expected before Wilma made landfall early Sunday morning.
Some slow weakening was forecast after landfall, as the storm crosses the southern part of the state, but the Wilma was expected to be a Category 2 hurricane when the center reaches the east coast early Monday afternoon, the NHC said.
![[Image]](/content_images/102305_fpg-05-a.jpg) |
| Image courtesy of NOAA |
| Visible satellite image of Hurricane Wilma about 170 miles southwest of Naples at 10:45 p.m. Sunday. |
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Category 3 hurricanes have winds between 111 and 130 mph. Category 2 hurricanes have winds between 96 and 110 mph.
Wilma was moving northeastward at a speed of 18 MPH, and the NHC said the storm would pick up speed through the night.
"A track from Collier County to near Lake Okeechobee and exiting Palm Beach County during the next 18 hours seems quite reasonable," the NHC 11 p.m. discussion said. "Given that Wilma has a 40 to 50 nautical mile diameter eye, hurricane-force winds will extend well away from where the exact center passes in the longer term."
The NHC said because Wilma is a large storm, hurricane and tropical storm force winds will reach the Florida peninsula well before the eye makes landfall sometime early Monday morning.
![[Image]](/content_images/102305_fpg-05-b.jpg) |
| Image courtesy of NOAA |
| Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Wilma about 170 miles southwest of Naples at 10:45 p.m. Sunday. |
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Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 85 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 230 miles.
The eastern portion of the eyewall and the strongest winds were forecast to reach the southwestern coast about two hours before the center of the large eye makes landfall.
Pinellas County remained under a tropical storm warning and inland storm warning Sunday night into Monday morning. A tornado watch was in effect for all of west central Florida from Citrus County southward until 11 a.m. Monday.
The NWS said the threat for tornadoes would continue overnight as additional raindbands from Wilma reach the area. Any tornadoes will be fast moving.
At 11 p.m., the center of the storm was about 170 miles southwest of Naples, 196 miles southwest of Fort Myers and 260 miles southwest of Tampa. By midnight, the storm was 160 miles southwest of Naples.
![[Image]](/content_images/102305_fpg-05-c.jpg) |
| Map courtesy of the NWS |
| The National Weather Service map of watches and warnings issued at 11:48 p.m. Oct. 23. |
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Sustained tropical storm-force winds were occurring over the lower and middle Florida Keys, and tropical storm-force winds were within 20 miles of the southwestern Florida coast, according to the NHC. Between the hour of 11 p.m. and midnight, a sustained wind of 45 mph with a gust to 60 mph was reported at Key West.
Heavy rain was falling across portions of Pinellas County. At 11:53 p.m., the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport was reporting a sustained northeast wind of 12 mph with a gust to 22 mph. The St. Petersburg Whitted Airport was reporting sustained winds of 20 mph.
According to the National Weather Service office in Ruskin, winds will decrease gradually overnight across southwest and west central parts of the state, and then increase rapidly to tropical storm force between 3 and 7 a.m. Monday.
"Based on the current forecast track, the strongest winds will occur from 8 to 11 a.m. in most areas," the NWS said.
The best chances for high-end tropical storm force gusts - 60 to 70 mph - were expected near the coastlines of Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
The NWS said in the Tampa Bay area and points north, tropical storm sustained winds should arrive around or soon after 5 a.m., with the highest winds, 50 to 60 mph and gusts up to 65 mph, expected between 7 a.m. and noon.
Winds and gusts are expected to diminish in all areas by noon; however, the NWS said gusts to near tropical storm force are possible, especially near the water due to a strong cold front, which will follow immediately after Wilma moves into the Atlantic.
Pinellas County schools are closed on Monday, as well as county offices, the health department and offices of the Sixth Judicial Court. Some cities have announced closings, as well. Click here for related story.
The NWS said high profile vehicles could become difficult to maneuver during the strongest winds. County officials have advised residents to stay at home if possible on Monday morning until the storm passes.
Tides are expected to be about 1 foot above normal on Monday. Rivers are not expected to rise because of the fast movement of the storm.
Rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches with higher amounts in some areas were reported on Sunday afternoon. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were forecast to continue moving through the area tonight. Some locally heavy rainfall amounts are possible, the NWS said, across west central and southwest Florida. Minor flooding of low-lying areas is possible.
Monday afternoon should be cool and breezy with possible periods of sunshine. Monday's low is forecast to be in the 50s.
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Article published on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005
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