I want everyone to say hello to our

[ninjaturtle]

Here we go again Florida!

Hurricane Wilma Grows to Category 5 Storm

By FREDDY CUEVAS

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) - Gathering strength at a fierce pace, Hurricane Wilma grew into one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded early Wednesday, a Category 5 monster packing 175 mph wind that forecasts warned was ``extremely dangerous.''

Wilma was dumping rain on Central America and Mexico, and forecasters warned of a ``significant threat'' to Florida by the weekend.

``All interests in the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula should closely monitor the progress of extremely dangerous Hurricane Wilma,'' the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest advisory.

Based on a preliminary reading of its pressure, forecasters said Wilma was perhaps the most powerful Atlantic storm on record.

A U.S. Air Force reconnaissance planes recorded a preliminary pressure reading Wednesday morning of 884 millibars, the lowest minimum pressure for a hurricane in the Atlantic. But the pressure reading was not yet official because it had not been immediately verified. Lower pressure translates into higher wind speed.

The strongest on record, based on the lowest pressure reading, is Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which registered an 888 millibar reading.

Wilma gathered force rapidly over the last day. Only Tuesday morning, it grew from a tropical storm into a weak hurricane.

At 5 a.m. EDT, U.S. Air Force reconnaissance planes measured Wilma's top sustained wind at 175 mph, making it a Category 5, the Hurricane Center said. At that time, the storm was centered about 170 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman Island and about 365 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. It was moving west-northwest at nearly 8 mph and was expected to turn northwest, the Hurricane Center said.

``It does look like it poses a significant threat to Florida by the weekend. Of course, these are four- and five-day forecasts, so things can change,'' said Dan Brown, a meteorologist at the Hurricane Center.

Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras were getting heavy rain from the storm, though it wasn't likely to make landfall in any of those countries. Forecasts showed it would likely turn toward the narrow Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico's Cancun region - then move into the storm-weary Gulf.

With heavy rain, high winds, and rough seas already pounding coastal areas, flood-prone Honduras warned that Wilma posed ``an imminent threat to life and property'' and closed two seaports on its Caribbean coast. Neighboring Nicaragua also declared an alert. Authorities in the Cayman Islands had earlier called an alert.

Honduras and its neighbors already are recovering from flooding and mudslides caused earlier this month from storms related to Hurricane Stan. At least 796 people were killed, most of them in Guatemala, with many more still missing.

Cuba issued a hurricane watch for the western end of the island from Matanzas to Pioneer del Rio, as well as the Isle of Youth. Mexico issued a hurricane watch for nearly all of its Caribbean coast from Punta Gruesa to Cabo Catoche, an area that includes the resort of Cancun.

Wilma already had been blamed for one death in Jamaica as a tropical depression Sunday. It has flooded several low-lying communities and triggered mudslides that blocked roads and damaged several homes, said Barbara Carby, head of Jamaica's emergency management office. She said that some 250 people were in shelters throughout the island.

Although the storm was not expected to approach Florida until the weekend, some residents began buying water, canned food and other emergency supplies early. Many said they take every storm seriously now, after witnessing the devastation from a succession of hurricanes that have ravaged the southern United States.

``People have learned their lesson and know better how to prepare. We're not waiting until the last minute anymore,'' said Andrea Yerger, 48, of Port Charlotte, Florida. She was buying material to protect her house, which had to be gutted because of extensive damage from Hurricane Charley last year.

Wilma's track could take it near Punta Gorda on Florida's southwestern Gulf Coast and other areas in the state hit by Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm, in August 2004.

Forecasters urged Florida residents to closely monitor Wilma. The state has seen seven hurricanes hit or pass close by since August 2004, causing more than $20 billion in estimated damage and killing nearly 150 people.

In the Cayman Islands, authorities urged businesses to close early Tuesday to give employees time to prepare for the storm. Schools were ordered to close on Wednesday.

In Mexico, the MTV Latin America Video Music Awards ceremony, originally scheduled to be held Thursday at a seaside park south of Cancun, were moved up one day to avoid possible effects from Wilma.

Forecasters said Wilma should avoid the central U.S. Gulf coast devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita earlier this year which killed more than 1,200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

``There's no scenario now that takes it toward Louisiana or Mississippi, but that could change,'' said Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is the record-tying 12th hurricane of the season, the same number reached in 1969. That is the most for one season since record-keeping began in 1851.

On Monday, Wilma became the Atlantic hurricane season's 21st named storm, tying the record set in 1933 and exhausting the list of names for this year.

The six-month hurricane season does not end until Nov. 30. Any new storms would be named with letters from the Greek alphabet, starting with Alpha.

Associated Press writers Mitch Stacy in Punta Gorda, Florida, and Jay Ehrhart in George Town, Cayman Islands, contributed to this report.

On the Net:

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

10/19/05 07:27

[jadeclaw]

Follow the bugger here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

[Christopher]

Thanks for the info.

Looks pretty serious, and knowing our luck, it will probably hit the US. What is going on this year -- karma from Bush's wrath?

Whilst this is bad, remember, there was much worse elsewhere in the world.

[ninjaturtle]

Thanks for the info.

Looks pretty serious, and knowing our luck, it will probably hit the US. What is going on this year -- karma from Bush's wrath?

Whilst this is bad, remember, there was much worse elsewhere in the world.

No, she just didn't want to leave us out feeling lonely since last year becuase we really didn't get hard this year.

Well atleast it south of me buy a hundred miles or more.

Edited October 19, 2005 by ninjaturtle

[jadeclaw]

What is going on this year -- karma from Bush's wrath?

Maybe.

But seriously, it is in part the inability of the US-government to understand the concept of global warming.

And especially the connection between pollution and global warming.

Remember, the USA accounts for less than 6% of the worlds population,

but produces about 25% of all carbon dioxide in the world.

And since car traffic accounts for a good part of that,

the german government did the right thing:

It is no longer possible to register a SUV as a light truck.

In other words, instead of paying less than 200 euros in taxes,

your average gas guzzler will cost now 500 to 800 euros per year (depending on engine size ).

Let's hope, that other countries follow that example...

[lamewing]

Maybe.

But seriously, it is in part the inability of the US-government to understand the concept of global warming.

And especially the connection between pollution and global warming.

Remember, the USA accounts for less than 6% of the worlds population,

but produces about 25% of all carbon dioxide in the world.

And since car traffic accounts for a good part of that,

the german government did the right thing:

It is no longer possible to register a SUV as a light truck.

In other words, instead of paying less than 200 euros in taxes,

your average gas guzzler will cost now 500 to 800 euros per year (depending on engine size ).

Let's hope, that other countries follow that example...

Actually, car traffic account for very little. The largest % of CO2 to be released in the air is from geologic activity. I am not saying that cars don't play a role, but it isn't that great compared to natural occuring processes. Cars play a significantly larger role locally in regards to affecting the environment. Also, there are other man-made things that have a MUCH greater affect than cars. 1 hour of use of a gas-powered push lawn mower equals the pollution creadted by 40 CARS in that same hour!!! There is much more to this than cars and people need to understand this. Try researching how much pollution is created and energy used to make 1 aluminium can or 1 order of french fries!!!

Also, the concept of global warming having an effect on hurricanes needs a great deal more study, especially considering the warming/cooling cycles of the planet go in periods of time that are much greater than a few centuries also, hurricane strenghts also show patterns of waning and waxing over decades. This isn't the first time we have had bad storms in one year. In regards to Wilma..while it is a Cat 5 now, the inner eye-wall is pinching itself off and should force the creation of a new eye. When this happens the system will probably drop to a class 3 hurricane by the time it reaches landfall.

[MZ-NH1]

Shit!

That is very bad!

Is anyone else a little concerned at the number of natural disasters that are occuring around the world?

There was the Bali Tsunami, then all the hurricans in America, then the Earthquake in Pakistan... and then now this hurricane!!

Do you think this could be because of global warming or what!?

[lamewing]

Shit!

That is very bad!

Is anyone else a little concerned at the number of natural disasters that are occuring around the world?

There was the Bali Tsunami, then all the hurricans in America, then the Earthquake in Pakistan... and then now this hurricane!!

Do you think this could be because of global warming or what!?

I am sorry to say, but the geologic activity (including the results from such activity such as a tsunami) cannot be blamed on global warming. A small increase of CO2 in the atmosphere isn't going to play a role on geologic activity. Instead, just the opposite is true. See above for the hurricane.

There have been much worse in the past. Heck in the late 70s(?), a typhoon hit India killing 3/4 of a million people. 35,000 from an earthquake is only 1/20th that number.

Edited October 20, 2005 by lamewing

[MZ-NH1]

So what is the reason for the sudden rise in natural disasters??

It has to be with something we are doign in the environment doesn't it?

[greenmachine]

Sudden rise? Do you think everything was quiet and peaceful just because past events have not been monitored and written down as extensively and accurately as we currently practice it? ||

[lamewing]

Sudden rise? Do you think everything was quiet and peaceful just because past events have not been monitored and written down as extensively and accurately as we currently practice it? ||

Thank you Greeny!!!

NH1, the Earth is about 4.6 billion years old. Much has happened in that time.

Earthquakes and Tsunamis happen...thank plate techtonics for that. We have nothing to do with that.

Hurricanes run in strong and weak cycles of decades. We now are back into a strong cycle. Folks have forgotten the 60s and 70s...Hurrican Camille, Typhoon Tip, etc.

[leonyuhanov]

dont you all see, its so clear! its Mother Natures wrath upon humanity for buying Ipods!!

imean its so obvious!

Leon

ps:if you see someone on the street with an ipod, give them ure rant!

[MZ-NH1]

Look I know there have been plenty of natural disaster before... but I mean come on!

In the last 2 months there has been about 4 hurricans in Ameria, tsunamis, and a lot of other stuff to do with nature!!!

You can't just say that is it just the natural cycle of the environment... all these suddden disasters!?

[lamewing]

Look I know there have been plenty of natural disaster before... but I mean come on!

In the last 2 months there has been about 4 hurricans in Ameria, tsunamis, and a lot of other stuff to do with nature!!!

You can't just say that is it just the natural cycle of the environment... all these suddden disasters!?

Acutally, I can believe it. This isn't the only year we have had a large number of strong hurricanes. It simply occured before both of us were probably born. It is simple, nature is a bitch. Stop the doomsaying nonsense please.

dont you all see, its so clear! its Mother Natures wrath upon humanity for buying Ipods!!

imean its so obvious!

Leon

ps:if you see someone on the street with an ipod, give them ure rant!

I CAN BELIEVE this to be TRUE. Gaia is punishing all the pod peoples.

[greenmachine]

Armageddon is near. Propably.

[Christopher]

Meh, this is kiddie stuff considering what the Earth has seen. Hopefully none of us will see the day when some super natural disaster occurs, although the tsunami was pretty f-in horrible.

[greenmachine]

I'm looking forward to the day when the sun evolves into a red giant. That will be kind of interesting. Makes us aware of the importance of our existence - and current events. Why do people think so short-sighted?

[Christopher]

If you're still alive at that point then I'll have what your drinking. I think the best you might see, or I guess not see, is a gamma ray burst; that's most surprising is that just a 10-second burst can cause years of devastating ozone damage.

[greenmachine]

The formula is simple: Believe in immortality and - most importantly - in the power of thoughts.

[bobt]

Like Geprge Burns once said, the first 100 years is the hardest, the rest should be easy..