Saturday, Oct. 15 - The 24th tropical depression of the season formed in the western Caribbean Sea. At 5 p.m. EDT, it was about 195 miles southeast of Grand Cayman and about 85 miles southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica. The depression had sustained winds near 30 mph and was drifting to the west at 3 mph.
Sunday, Oct. 16 - A tropical storm warning was posted for the Cayman Islands as Tropical Depression 24 moved through the Atlantic. At 11 p.m., the depression was centered about 155 miles southeast of Grand Cayman and moving west near 2 mph with sustained winds near 35 mph.
Monday, Oct. 17 - Wilma became the Atlantic hurricane season's 21st named storm, tying the record set in 1933 and exhausting the list of names for 2005. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands. At 11 p.m., Wilma was centered about 255 miles south-southeast of Grand Cayman and moving west near 2 mph with sustained winds near 65 mph.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Wilma became the Atlantic season's 12th hurricane, equaling the record set in 1969 for the highest number since record-keeping began in 1851. At 11 p.m., Wilma had winds reaching 110 mph and was about 180 miles southwest of Grand Cayman. In Florida, water managers began draining canals as forecasters projected a weekend visit to South Florida and Lake Okeechobee with Palm Beach County in the center of the projected path.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 - Hurricane Wilma strengthened into one of the Americas' most intense storms ever and lashed the Caribbean coastlines, forcing tourists to flee as it threatened to slam into Cancun and South Florida. Wilma grows into a monstrous Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4. At least 13 deaths were blamed on Wilma so far. With its center still over open water, the storm's sustained winds were near 155 mph by 11 p.m., down from 175 mph earlier in the day. At 11 p.m., Wilma was centered about 235 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. It was moving west-northwest near 8 mph, with some wobbles. Wilma's record-level intensity was measured in its pressure. Forecasters said Wilma was stronger than the Labor Day hurricane that hit the Keys in 1935, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to make landfall on record.
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Watch vs Warning - Know the Difference
A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
