Wilma is just starting to emerge in the Gulf of Mexico after spending several hours inland over the Yucatan Peninsula. The damage in Cancun and Cozumel could be catastrophic with the duration and strength of the winds experience there. An MSNBC.com article has some initial damage reports as well as reports of looting in the mostly abadoned tourist destinations. Unfortunately for Florida residents the structure of Wilma still looks pretty solid. Wilma is still a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100mph and the latest forecast has her strengthening back to at least a Cat 3.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS...AND WILMA COULD REGAIN CATEGORY THREE STATUS DURING THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.
Wilma is also a large storm with hurricane winds extending out 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending 200 miles from the center. A large area of Florida will be impacted with strong winds regardless of where in Florida she makes landfall. Hurricane watches are already up for the Keys as well as South and Central Florida counties. Maps showing the advisories can be found here and here. It still unclear what impact, if any, Wilma will have on the Northeast coast.
