Effects of Hurricane Wilma in Florida

Hurricane Wilma
	Satellite image of Hurricane Wilma over Florida on October 24, 2005
Meteorological history
Duration	October 22–25, 2005
Category 3 major hurricane
	1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	120 mph (195 km/h)
Highest gusts	150 mph (240 km/h)
Lowest pressure	950 mbar (hPa); 28.05 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	30 total (5 direct, 25 indirect)
Damage	$19 billion (2005 USD)
Areas affected	Florida
	Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
	History Meteorological history; Effects Mexico; Florida; The Bahamas; Other wikis Commons: Wilma images;

The effects of Hurricane Wilma in Florida resulted in the storm becoming one of the costliest tropical cyclones in Florida history. Wilma developed in the Caribbean Sea just southwest of Jamaica on October 15 from a large area of disturbed weather. After reaching tropical storm intensity on October 17 and then hurricane status on October 18, the system underwent explosive intensification, peaking as the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma then slowly weakened while trekking to the northwest and fell to Category 4 intensity by the time it struck the Yucatán Peninsula on October 22. Thereafter, a strong cold front swept the storm northeastward into Florida on October 24, with landfall occurring near Cape Romano as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (190 km/h). Wilma continued rapidly northeastward into the Atlantic Ocean and became extratropical on October 26.

As the system drew closer, Florida governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency on October 19. Schools and government offices began closing on the following day. The storm's threat resulted in the postponement of several professional and collegiate sports games. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued many tropical cyclone warnings and watches for the state beginning on October 22. Officials ordered evacuations for southwestern Florida and the Florida Keys. However, fewer than 10% of Florida Keys residents complied with evacuation orders. No mandatory evacuations would be ordered for coastal areas of the Miami metropolitan area, though residents residing in low-lying areas and mobile homes were told to evacuate. Over 33,000 people sought refuge at a shelter in Florida.

Much of southern Florida experienced hurricane-force winds, with the strongest surface-height sustained wind speed being a 15-minute average of 92 mph (148 km/h), equivalent to a 1-minute speed of 104 mph (167 km/h), observed in Lake Okeechobee.^[1] High winds left approximately 3,241,000 customers of Florida Power & Light without electricity, including roughly 98% of urban southeast Florida. Primarily due to strong winds, agriculture sustained $1.3 billion or more in damage. There was also extensive impact to businesses and dwellings, with 55,000 residences and 3,600 workplaces in Palm Beach County alone reporting some degree of damage. Storm surge also left extensive damage in some parts of the state, especially in the Florida Keys and coastal Collier County. Damage in Florida totaled approximately $19 billion. At least 30 Wilma-related deaths were reported in Florida; five people died directly due to the hurricane's impacts.^[2]

^ Richard J. Pasch; Eric S. Blake; Hugh D. Cobb III; David P. Roberts (September 9, 2014). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Wilma (PDF). National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
^ Cite error: The named reference pbp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[tcr-1] Richard J. Pasch; Eric S. Blake; Hugh D. Cobb III; David P. Roberts (September 9, 2014). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Wilma (PDF). National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 15, 2015.

[pbp-2] Cite error: The named reference pbp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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