hmmmm ... another Gulf hurricane ??

[welshTerrier2]

The upper-level flow pattern remains extremely favorable for development... with low shear and good anticyclonic outflow...and there is a deep supply of warm water in the northwest Caribbean. The rapid instensification component of the SHIPS model is increasingly suggesting the likelihood of rapid development... but a better defined inner core structure needs to form first. The GFDL model brings the depression to major hurricane status within three days...and the large scale factors are certainly in place to allow this to happen. The official forecast is closer to the SHIPS model early in the forecast period but favors the GFDL later on.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. OMG

I think we are wearing a bullseye for this one.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Hunker down grannie.... keep your chin up... and keep us informed

as to how you are doin'..... 4mor.

[cwydro]

3. nonononono

PLEASE no...I am hurricaned out...I moving out of state if this one comes...I swear it:scared:

[undergroundpanther]

4. Another?

Tallahassiegrannie, I'll be here hoping all turns out ok for you.. The same goes for all the other southern DUers.
If you can keep us all posted please do, I don't want anyone to get hurt and be there without support somehow.
Tallahassie I am scared for you.I'm scared for all the country when hurricaines hit us.. Take care.

[damntexdem]

5. What would its name be?

Virgo? Waldo? Xena?

[welshTerrier2]

6. not sure but ...

i think the next one will be called: Wilma ...

[Silverhair]

9. Wilma. NT

[OneTwentyoNine]

7. Bout time,National gas price average is down to $2.68 per gallon....

By God that'll bounce it back up to well over $3.00 per gallon EVERYWHERE even if little or no damage is done to any rigs.

SHIT!!

[welshTerrier2]

8. just fyi, the map in the OP automatically updates ...

the link to the map shown in the OP automatically updates as the website receives the most current information on the hurricane ...

keep checking back to track the storm ...

it's been named "Wilma" btw ...

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Next update is 5:00 EDT

[welshTerrier2]

11. Tuesday morning update - Wilma is now a hurricane - Florida ??

source: http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/at200524.disc.html

Wilma is expected to become an intense hurricane in the northwestern caribean sea...typical of those hurricanes which commonly occurred in October during the 30's 40's and 50's. This is nothing new. <skip>

This is consistent with the guidance envelope which shows a hurricane moving either over the Yucatan Channel or western Cuba and then over the southern half of the Florida peninsula between days 4 and 5. Remember...there is a large variability and large errors associated with the 4 and 5 day forecasts.

[welshTerrier2]

12. uh oh - Wilma is heading for Category 4

this thing looks like it's going to get very large and very powerful ...

here's the Tuesday afternoon info:

Wilma could be a major hurricane by this time tomorrow...and reach category four strength before entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. As Wilma accelerates northeastward in the Gulf...wind shear is forecast to increase slightly...but at this time does not appear to be sufficient to weaken Wilma very quickly. <skip>

Only very modest shifts have occurred with the tightly-clustered model guidance suite...which...at this time...is focusing the long-term threat to the southern half of the Florida Peninsula.

[Eurobabe]

13. right on time, we need something to distract the masses

n/t

[hippiechick]

14. Compare post-Wilma w/ post-Katrina ...

... we should keep our eyes and the media's attention on just how fast and how much 'aid' arrives in FLA after Wilma leaves, and invariably start the whispering campaign about 'Well of course -- it's the President's brother's state that's involved.'

No offense to anyone in FLA, because I do feel you'll need as much help, as fast as it can get there ... but ...

Comparisons will be warranted, IMO.

[welshTerrier2]

15. Wednesday morning - 1 AM - Wilma is now a Cat 5 !!!

this is a potential major catastrophe ... there's no nice way to put it ... current max winds are 185 mph ...

Wilma may be about to set a record for the lowest pressure reading ever recorded in this area ...

most of the forecast models are picking southern Florida but there are still some variables that could move the storm further north in Florida ...

the time for planning and a small dose of panic may be upon us ...

i wonder if they'll try to evacuate Florida ... this looks really bad right now ...