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Maybe we need to up the scale

The Saffir-Simpson scale only goes up to 5. Maybe it’s time to think about a 6, eh?

From Weatherunderground.com:

Tracking Info For Hurricane Wilma

Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
21 GMT 10/15/05 17.6N 78.8W 30 1004 Tropical Depression
03 GMT 10/16/05 17.0N 79.0W 30 1003 Tropical Depression
09 GMT 10/16/05 17.0N 79.3W 35 1003 Tropical Depression
15 GMT 10/16/05 17.1N 79.3W 35 1002 Tropical Depression
21 GMT 10/16/05 17.7N 79.6W 35 1001 Tropical Depression
03 GMT 10/17/05 17.6N 79.7W 35 1001 Tropical Depression
09 GMT 10/17/05 17.2N 79.7W 40 1000 Tropical Storm
15 GMT 10/17/05 16.3N 80.0W 45 998 Tropical Storm
21 GMT 10/17/05 15.8N 79.9W 50 989 Tropical Storm
03 GMT 10/18/05 15.8N 80.2W 65 987 Tropical Storm
09 GMT 10/18/05 15.7N 80.0W 70 982 Tropical Storm
15 GMT 10/18/05 16.5N 80.6W 75 977 Category 1 Hurricane
21 GMT 10/18/05 16.7N 81.5W 80 970 Category 1 Hurricane
03 GMT 10/19/05 16.8N 82.1W 110 945 Category 2 Hurricane
05 GMT 10/19/05 16.9N 82.0W 150 901 Category 4 Hurricane
09 GMT 10/19/05 17.2N 82.5W 175 884 Category 5 Hurricane

What this means, boys and girls, is that in less than 24 hours Wilma went from being a Tropical Storm to being a Class 5 hurricane. She picked up more than 100 mph in wind speed in under 30 hours.

Hurricane season “officially” ends on December 1st (someone make sure the planet gets the memo, m’kay?). Time to learn the Greek alphabet.

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Comments

  1. This morning when I went to check on Wilma, I first went to NOHA and thought they’d made a mistake. A Cat. 5. Not possible I thought. Then I went to Weatherunderground.com and all was confirmed. WILD.

    Wilma may just be the spoiler for the season. I hope one and all take the appropriate actions necessary.

    STB

    Go Astros!
    And I hate nailbiters! I really do…I have to walk into the other room for half the game!