Cat 3 Wilma spins toward South Florida with 115-mph winds - Europeans have been evacuated from dangerous areas
Hurricane Wilma's onslaught was expected to arrive before dawn Monday and continue through noon, with potential winds of more than 100 mph and up to 8 inches of rain.
This 12th hurricane of the busiest hurricane season on record was projected to strike near Naples with 115 mph winds by early Monday morning, then rapidly cross the state and emerging between West Palm Beach and Stuart by about noon. If that holds, South Florida would be on the storm's right, or more vicious side, with Wilma's wrath, including the potential for numerous tornadoes, extending about 200 miles from its core. In some areas, the storm could generate up to 12 inches of rain, prompting a flood watch through this afternoon. The state's East Coast, from Titusville to the Keys, was under a hurricane warning.
Schools in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade will be closed today and Tuesday. South Florida's major airports were shut down, but Broward County Aviation Director Tom Jargiello said Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International likely would reopen later today. Travelers were advised to check with their airlines. Florida emergency officials expect widespread power outages and heavy flooding. Recovery crews were preparing to move in after Wilma moves out.
No comments:
Post a Comment