The tracking map for Hurricane Wilma issued at 5 a.m. Monday shows the storm's predicted path over the next three days.
PINELLAS COUNTY - The center of Wilma came ashore near Cape Romano at 6:30 a.m. as a strong Category 3 storm with winds of 125 mph with higher gusts.
Cape Romano is about 20 miles west of Everglades City, and about 30 miles south of the Marco Island, the National Hurricane Center's projected landfall site. Everglades City in Collier County is about 200 miles south of the city of Seminole, which is in Pinellas County.
Hurricane force wins extended outward up to 90 miles from the center, and tropical-storm force winds extended outward to 230 miles. The diameter of the eye was 65 nautical miles.
Hurricane-strength winds and heavy rainbands covered much of southwest Florida Monday morning. Tropical storm-force winds were expected in Pinellas County and much of Tampa Bay throughout the morning hours. Tropical storm-force winds are between 39 and 73 mph.
Image courtesy of NOAA
Visible satellite image of Hurricane Wilma at 5:45 a.m. Monday.
At 6:53 a.m., the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport was reporting rainy and windy conditions with sustained north winds of 30 mph with gusts to 43 mph. The St. Petersburg Whitted Airport was reporting light rain with sustained north winds of 31 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Rain of .28 inches was reported in the past hour and .64 inches total since midnight.
Crystal Pruitt, Pinellas County communications specialist, said no reports of damage or flooding had been reported on Monday morning. She said the Florida Highway Patrol had closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to all traffic until further notice.
At 8:53 a.m., the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport was reporting rainy and windy conditions with sustained north winds of 31 mph with gusts to 46 mph. The St. Petersburg Whitted Airport was reporting rain and fog with sustained north winds of 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
Pruitt also reported that about 5,000 residents were without electricity. She said Progress Energy had crews out in the field working to restore power as quickly as possible.
Image courtesy of NOAA
Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Wilma at 5:45 a.m. Monday.
At 7 a.m., the center of storm was located inland about 10 miles north Everglades City and was moving to the northeast at 23 mph. The storm was expected to exit the state as a Category 2 hurricane on the east coast by afternoon. By 8 a.m., Wilma had moved inland to about 35 miles east-northeast of Everglades City.
Category 3 hurricanes have winds between 111 and 130 mph. Category 2 hurricanes have winds between 96 and 110 mph.
According to the National Weather Service office in Ruskin, hurricane conditions are expected over land and seas from Sarasota County southward, and tropical storm conditions are expected from Manatee County northward on Monday morning.
Pinellas County remained under a tropical storm warning and inland tropical storm warning until 2 p.m. A tornado watch was in effect until 11 a.m.
Image courtesy of NWS
Radar image of Hurricane Wilma on shore near Cape Romano, which is about 20 miles west of Everglades City, at 7 a.m. Monday. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 125 mph - a strong Category 3 Hurricane.
The NWS said Hurricane Wilma was generating large, rough seas over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and that large breaking waves would make the area beaches dangerous.
"The public should remain indoors this morning until conditions improve," the NWS said. "Mariners should remain in port until conditions improve. Based on the current forecast track, the strongest winds will occur from 8 to 11 a.m. in most areas."
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.
Image courtesy of NWS
Radar image of Hurricane Wilma on shore Everglades City, at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 125 mph - a strong Category 3 Hurricane.
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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