This storm ties the record for the most storms in one season... In 1932, 21 storms occurred, and no year before or after even threatened that count, so when NOAA needed to pick names for storms, 21 storm names per season were selected.

So, where we are... the first "W" hurricane...

Tropical Storm Wilma is gathering strength in the western Caribbean Sea. At the same time, the storm is drifting toward the southwest, prompting the issuance of a tropical storm warning for a portion of the Honduran coast.

Wilma is expected to nip the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, and build to a Category 2 storm in the next 48 hours.

A tropical storm warning (and hurricane watch) remains posted for the Cayman Islands. Locally heavy squalls are likely to batter the Caymans, Jamaica and northeast Honduras through tomorrow. Wilma is expected to continue intensifying, likely reaching hurricane status tomorrow. It also is forecast to turn to a more westerly and eventually northwesterly track (by mid-week).

Wilma is beginning to form up nicely, while a look at the historical track map for sorms developing where Wilma did is all over the place.

Such a course would bring Wilma close to (or over) the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula by late Friday, then into the extreme south-central Gulf of Mexico by early Saturday. Keep in mind, however, the track error for this still developing storm is large. It's not impossible it could churn into Belize or the Yucatan Peninsula, or even sweep northward toward far western Cuba. Thus, all interests in and near the western Caribbean should monitor the progress of Wilma very closely.

The storm is drifting northwestward now and this motion, though it may be erratic at times, is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Heavy showers are likely in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, northern Honduras and northeast Nicaragua. Conditions are favorable for Wilma to continue strengthening and it's quite possible it may reach major hurricane status (winds in excess of 110 mph) by late tomorrow or early Thursday as it churns into the northwest Caribbean.

Beyond that--and keep in mind forecast errors can be large--Wilma may try to slip through the Yucatan Channel into the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico and do some saber rattling directed at the Florida Peninsula, the southern peninsula in particular. Residents there might begin thinking about the possibility of a hurricane strike sometime this coming weekend.
 

It's been confirmed: Hurricane Wilma, with a pressure of 882 mb, is the most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin. Wilma, after undergoing a stunning intensifcation overnight, is now a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane packing sustained winds of 175 mph.

Winds are now up to 175 mph making this a Category 5 hurricane. Hurricane watches have been extended up to parts of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Hurricane Wilma is moving west-northwestward at 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

Heavy rain is likely in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, northern Honduras and southern Cuba.

Wilma may try to slip through the Yucatan Channel into the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico and turn to the east or northeast. Residents of the southern Florida, including the Keys, should begin thinking about the possibility of a hurricane strike sometime this coming weekend.

The eye of wild Wilma continues to follow a wobbling WNW track through the western Caribbean with a turn toward the NW expected. In the short term, the spiraling outer bands of Wilma will continue to rotate and produce squally weather for western Cuba, the eastern Yucatan, Belize, and Honduras.

Visible and Infrared satellite views.  The infrared view shows the temperature of the cloud tops, an indicator of how high they reach into the atmosphere... the higher they are, the worse the storm typically.

The water vapor content image is VERY impressive...

Rainfall amounts through Friday may total between 10 to 15 inches for parts of western Cuba and the Yucatan - possibly as much as 25 inches over the mountainous terrain of western Cuba. Moreover, battering waves of 15 to 25 feet will continue to punish these coastlines.

Fluctuations in Wilma's intensity are likely.

The projected track of the hurricane points to a potential landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula. Beyond that, Wilma is expected to come under the influence of westerly winds aloft blowing across the Gulf. That should shift the hurricane toward South Florida during the latter half of the weekend. Some weakening is expected by then, but Wilma could still be a formidable hurricane.
 

Hitting the shoreline near Cancun... Buoys near the keys are already getting pummeled.

The track seems to be point East... the satellite view is actually quite beautiful...

Rainfall amounts through Saturday may total between 10 to 20 inches for parts of the Yucatan and anywhere from 10 inches along the coast to as much as 40 inches over the mountains in western Cuba.

The coastal storm surge north of the eye will be in the 7-to-11-foot range above the regular tide levels for the northeast Yucatan from Cozumel northward. Moreover, battering waves of 15 to 35 feet will punish the coastlines producing severe beach erosion. Swells from Wilma are emanating northward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast from the Mississippi-Alabama border to the Suwanee River, producing high surf.

The winds have spread out - the orange ring marks 75mph, the storm clouds are quite high, and well organized still.

As the eyewall brushes the northeast Yucatan coast, Category-4-strength winds will cause the complete destruction of poorly built structures. Wilma's hurricane force winds extend out 85 miles from its center.

Wilma will weaken over the Yucatan... Probability of impact covers most of Florida...

Over the weekend, Wilma is expected to come under the influence of stronger westerly winds aloft blowing across the Gulf, shifting the hurricane toward southern Florida by Monday. The interaction with land as the hurricane brushes past the Yucatan Peninsula plus the increasing influence of westerly shear and even some mid-level dry air intrusion could weaken Wilma considerably before it directly affects Florida.
 

Excessive damage has taken the weather sensors off-line...

It has caused considerable damage...

Meanwhile, hurricane watches have been posted for central and southern Florida. Hurricane warnings are in effect for western Cuba and continue for the eastern half of the Yucatan. Maximum sustained winds in Wilma have dropped to 100 mph and some additional weakening is expected as the storm creeps into the Gulf of Mexico tonight.

When that happens, Wilma may begin restrengthening. In the meantime, tremendous amounts of rain will continue to inundate the Yucatan and western Cuba. Rainfall totals of 10-65 inches have already occurred.

The hurricane is forecast to come under the influence of westerly winds aloft as it edges into the Gulf tonight and that should accelerate the storm toward the Florida Peninsula Sunday. Landfall in the Sunshine State seems likely sometime Monday, probably early Monday. Rainfall across the southern peninsula is forecast to be generous with 4-8 inches likely through Tuesday. Isolated 12-inch amounts are possible.

Wilma's strength when it reaches Florida remains uncertain, but at this point a Category 1 or 2 seems a good bet. Don't write off the possibility of something stronger, however.

Hurricane Wilma, with sustained winds of 125 mph, made landfall at 6:30 a.m. EDT today near Cape Romano, Fla. Wilma continues to rip northeastward over the southern Florida Peninsula.

Jim Cantore was loving it!

The hurricane's forward speed is up to 23 mph and even faster movement is anticipated. Winds have gusted over 100 mph in a number of locations in south Florida. A storm spotter on Cudjoe Key reported a gust to 123 mph, and gusts as high as 111 mph have battered greater Miami.

The large eye of Wilma is churning toward the West Palm Beach area now and conditions along the southeast coast of the Sunshine State will remain very dangerous for the next several hours. In addition, tornadoes are likely as far north as the Orlando area.

Since Wilma will continue to speed up as it passes over Florida, rainfall totals will not be excessive. The rain will be blinding at times, however, and general totals of 4 to 6 inches are forecast, with isolated 8- to 12-inch amounts possible.

Wilma hit Florida pretty good...

Wilma will continue to wind down as it charges toward Newfoundland. It's expected to pass well south and east of Nova Scotia this evening, but the weather in Nova Scotia will still become quite stormy as a tenuous link forms between Wilma's circulation and the circulation around a strong nor'easter near New England.

Winds are in the 50 mph range, and rainfall is averaging an inch or so per hour in some areas... Check out Portland's weather (Gusting in the 30's at 6AM PST - 9AM Eastern) -- Cape Cod is getting it worse (Gusts near 50).

This is Greg Dansak talking with The Weather Channel.  He likens this storm to the “Halloween Storm” (Which is known as "The Perfect Storm" by non-New Englanders). He’s from Brewster, and came by to check out the weather. Doesn’t think its “too bad” so far… Saw waves 15 feet high, and “those were nice…”