Wilma hurricane

The hurricane Wilma is the 22e tropical storm, exceeding the cyclone season 1933 and the 12th hurricane recorded in the basin of the Atlantic Ocean in 2005. It is the 4th hurricane of category 5 of the cyclone season 2005, after Emily, Katrina and Rita, definitively leaving far the record from two hurricanes of category 5 in 1960 and 1961. It is the first use of the letter W, and consequently, of the name Wilma.

Wilma is the most intense hurricane ever observed on the cyclonic basin of the Atlantic Ocean Northern, with a pressure barometric power station of 882 Millibar S (October 18th 2005 with 8:00 EDT). The preceding record had been reached by the Ouragan Gilbert in 1988 (888 Millibar S).

Chronology

Genesis

During the second Week of October 2005, a very broad tropical Perturbation developed above the Caribbean Sea. Crossed by several tropical waves, the south-western section of the disturbance intensified and, the October 14th, developed a depression near the Jamaica. The October 15th, towards 18:00 UTC, the cyclonic circulation of surface of the system was rather well defined so that the Tropical Prediction Center indicates it Tropical depression, with 190 nautical miles of the island of Grand Cayman.

The depression moved slowly according to a west-south-west direction (October 16th), then south-south-west, while intensifying slowly. The October 17th with 6:00 UTC, the system became Tropical storm, that NHC baptized Wilma . The October 18th, to 0:00 UTC, Wilma turned towards the west-north-west while becoming hurricane.

Maturity

Intensification in hurricane force 5

Later the October 18th 2005, Wilma began a marked episode of intensification. With 6:00 UTC the October 19th, the constant winds reached 275 km/h (170 Mi/h), making Wilma cyclone the 4th hurricane of category 5 of the season 2005.

The storm reached its maximum intensity towards 12:00 UTC, with winds supported with nearly 295 km/h (185 Mi/h), beating several records:

lower barometric pressure recorded with the sea level in the Atlantic Ocean: measured with 882 Millibar S, Wilma beat the record of the Ouragan Gilbert of 1988 (888 Millibar S);
smaller eye for a tropical cyclone: with 2 nautical miles of diameter, the eye of Wilma smallest was ever observed;
the fastest intensification for a tropical cyclone: passing from the tropical storm to 110 km/h with the super-hurricane of 290 km/h of 24 hour S, Wilma made fun of all the forecasts.

Wilma remained a hurricane of category 5 until the October 20th 2005. This day, the constant winds of the cyclone weakened with 240 km/h (150 Mi/h) and the mini-eye was replaced by a very broad eye of 40 nautical miles.

Passage on Yucatán

Early on October 21st, the Anticyclone which prevailed above the Gulf of Mexico started to weaken. Wilma turned towards the North-West, moving towards the Péninsule of Yucatán (Mexico). Towards 21:45 UTC, the eye of the cyclone of category 4 reached the island of Cozumel. The October 22nd, towards 3:00 UTC, Wilma crossed the coast of the Péninsule of Yucatán. The Anticyclone being dissipated, the hurricane could move towards north, devastating the sectors which it crossed. The passage over the grounds weakens gradually the storm. October 23rd, towards 0:00 UTC, the cyclone emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, with winds of 155 km/h (100 Mi/h). As a hurricane of category 2, Wilma was remained a very broad, powerful and organized hurricane.

Passage in Florida

Powerful a Courant-jet which moved above the the United States involved Wilma towards the North-East, that is to say towards the south of the Florida. Although the Cisaillement of the wind was important in the Gulf of Mexico, the cyclone intensified, reaching the category 3. In the North-West of the hurricane, a vigorous cold Front associated with the Courant-jet started to push the cyclone, which made it accelerate up to 45 km/h.

October 24th, 2005, towards 10:30 UTC, Wilma touched ground close to Cape Romano in Florida, with supported winds with 195 km/h (120 Mi/h). After having crossed Florida during 4,5 hour S, the eye of Wilma emerged in the Atlantic Ocean in the south-east of Jupiter (Florida), towards 15:00 UTC, surrounded by winds supported to 175 km/h (category 2).

Degeneration

Shortly after to have crossed Florida, and to have reached the island of Large Bahama (the Bahamas), the Wilma hurricane intensified again. October 25th, with 0:00 UTC, the Vent S constant 205 km/h reached (125 Mi/h).

Thereafter, travelling to any pace in the Atlantic Ocean western (with a Speed exceeding 95 km/h per moments), Wilma lost intensity vis-a-vis increasingly unfavourable conditions. The cyclone became extratropical on October 26th with 0:00 UTC and was located at 200 nautical miles in the south-east of Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada). The jet-stream dissociated the hurricane slowly. The October 27th 2005, the remainders of Wilma were integrated into another Cyclone extratropical.

Assessment

Haiti

Twelve people died following landslides caused by the pouring rain of Wilma.

Jamaica

The pouring rain, falling up to 50 mm per hour, caused generalized Inondation S and landslides which damaged several Résidence S. Several Communauté S were insulated because of the considerable Dommage S with the Route S.

A man was carried by a Landslide, alone death to regret in ground jamaïcain.

Mexico

On the island of Cozumel and the Peninsula of Yucatán, the authorities brought back 7 died directly connected to Wilma.

One brings back considerable damage to the hotels and other structures of the tourist sectors (Cozumel, Cancún, Playa del Carmen).

The powerful tide of storm, measured with 1,8 Meter S, because of strong Flood S in the sectors bordering Cancún.

With Playa del Carmen, more than 1000 residences were severely damaged. One even observed some Condominium S flooded to the 3rd stage.

Cuba

All the island was affected by Wilma. Is country was touched during the formation of the cyclone. The west was affected only several days later, when Wilma left the Péninsule of Yucatán.

The cuban authorities estimated that the Wilma cyclone will have cost them 704,2 USD million.

Is of Cuba

The provinces of south-east (that is to say Guantánamo, Santiago of Cuba and Granma) received up to 330 mm of precipitations in a few days, causing Inondation S and landslides.

A cuban newspaper (Granma) brought back 255 houses severely damaged or destroyed to Santiago of Cuba.

Sections of the highway of Sevilla - Guamá - Santiago of Cuba became impracticable because flooded. A Landslide also blocked the road of Cordovelo - Loma Blanca.

West of Cuba

Powerful the Tide of storm caused by the presence of Wilma near the island because of the Flood S in the west of the country, in particular with Havana. The powerful winds (up to 140 km/h) caused damage in the same sectors.

People were brought back disappeared, but the cuban Autorité S confirmed the absence of Mortalité S connected directly to Wilma.

During the evacuation of the exposed zones, a Autobus transporting evacuees was implied in an accident, killing 4 people, including three foreign tourists.

the United States

Florida

Keys

The tide of storm associated with Wilma, reaching 2,5 Meter S, because of the Flood S in the islands. The authorities of Key West brought back flooded streets, thousands of residences and vehicles submerged.

Continental Florida

Wilma because of the damage on a broad zone of the Peninsula. The Autorité S listed many uprooted trees, broken panes, very damaged roofs, destroyed mobile houses, reversed cars. The Agriculteur S had significant loss S with their Récolte S.

The International airport of Miami suffered damage which required its closing during several days.

The strong winds reversed electric pylons, cutting the electricity to 3,2 million residences.

Only one mortality was connected directly to Wilma in American ground. It is about a man who died after being transpierced by a tree reversed in the north of Miami.

The preliminary evaluation of the assured damage is approximately 6,1 billion USD. The total Coût of the Passage of Wilma in ground floridien is estimated at 12,2 billion USD.

the Bahamas

A tide of storm of 3,7 Mètre S of Height broke on the islands bahamiennes, destroying hundreds of houses and drowning a 15 month old villager.

On the island of Large Bahama, the authorities brought back at least a thousand of homeless person, their residences having been destroyed. The damage at electrical installations was severe, leaving without service during more than two weeks the bahamiens.

External bonds

" Yucatan counts the scars left by Wilma" , in '' Le Monde '', 11/21/2005
Wilma in images
Files of the NHC on the hurricane Wilma
Final report on the hurricane Wilma (version pdf)
Trajectory of the hurricane Wilma

Simple: Hurricane Wilma

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