IS FLORIDA'S THREAT LESSENING???

Hurricane Wilma is still a very formidable storm this morning, although it has weakened slightly to a Catagory 4 level. It seems to be heading toward the Yucatan, although the forecasts still call for her to take that northeast turn toward South Florida.

The weakening overnight is apparantly due to a typical eyewall replacement cycle, and we could see restrengthening today to a Catagory 5. But the discussion notes that interaction with the Yucatan land mass along with an expected westerly wind flow/shear around that time, we should begin to see Wilma gradually weaken. That said, if it does affect Florida, it will still be a potentially dangerous system.

At present the affect for Central Florida is only expected to be limited to a better chance of rain and breezy conditions, but area emergency planners are taking no chances. In South Florida, events are being postponed or cancelled and the usual stocking up of supplies is beginning to take place, and the Keys have firmed up their evacuation schedule.