Wilma forecast #2: Peninsula bracing for battering

[Josephine96]

The following post is NOT an official forecast and should not be used as such. It is just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. It is NOT endorsed by any professional institution including storm2k.org For Official Information please refer to the NHC and NWS products.

EXPERIMENTAL HURRICANE FORECAST
HURRICANE WILMA
NJN WEATHER CENTER
920 PM WED OCT 19TH 2005

Hurricane Wilma imploded during the last 24 hours and has beaten classic storms such as Gilbert, Katrina, and even Rita for the now lowest pressure recorded in the Atlantic. She has weakened some down to 160 mph with the possibility of further weakening likely as it is virtually impossible for a Cat 5 to remain a cat 5 for too long.

Wilma is attempting to cross the Yucatan channel now, between Cuba and the Yucatan. If she grazes the Yucatan, this may weaken her, but if her eye stays off shore, she may remain a bonafied 3-4 storm.

Wilma is still projected to be picked up and thrown into Florida by a cold front this weekend. I call this the "slingshot effect" when a cold front picks storms up and races them towards Florida or any other GOM state.

Wilma is projected to weaken some before a Saturday landfall, with landfall projected by the NHC to be in SW Florida. All interests in Central and South Florida need to remain advised because Wilma may decide to cross the state when she gets on land. But how far north she crosses, will determine whether or not cities such as Orlando, Melbourne and Kissimmee/St Cloud would see another Charley type scenario.

My official forecast has Wilma making landfall in SW Florida, then headed across the state, and possibly directly over Okechobee County, which includes Lake Okechobee. This would then cause at least TS force winds, and maybe hurricane force winds to her north if her wind field expands.

Here's my current 5 day experimental forecast on Wilma.
Tonight: Holding her own, meandering to the WNW. Max winds: 160 mph
Thursday: Passing slowly through the Yucatan channel. Some weakening. Max winds: 145 mph
Friday: Closing in on Florida, watches and warnings may go as far north as Tampa. Max winds: 135 mph
Saturday: Bearing down on the Sunshine state, Landfall sometime in the late afternoon/early evening. Max winds: 130 mph
Sunday: Shooting just to the north of the Bahamas, exiting Florida possibly as far north as Indian River County. Max winds: 95 mph