Quote:
Originally Posted by Shimpy
We had hurricane Wilma hit us in Boynton Beach Fla. It came ashore on the west coast of Fla. and GAINED strength coming across the widest part of Fla. to the east coast, about 180 miles. It was so large that it hung out over the Gulf and Atlantic and got stronger not weaker. We are in the narrowest part of Fla. and although it would be very rare it could happen.
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I have never heard of a hurricane that did not diminish in wind strength after making landfall. That is also true of Wilma.
The official NOAA report on Wilma states that it struck Florida's west coast with maximum sustained winds of 105 knots (Cat 3.) After crossing the state, it emerged on the east coast with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (Cat 2.)
The actual quote is: "Wilma strengthened over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and its winds reached about 110 kt as it approached Florida. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 105 kt (category 3 intensity) when landfall of the center occurred in southwestern Florida near Cape Romano around 1030 UTC 24 October. Continuing to accelerate and now moving at a forward speed of 20 to 25 kt, the hurricane crossed the southern
Florida peninsula in 4.5 hours, with the center emerging into the Atlantic just southeast of Jupiter around 1500 UTC.
Maximum winds had decreased to near 95 kt (category 2) during the crossing of Florida."
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL252005_Wilma.pdf
Highest sustained wind speed in nearby Orlando for Wilma was 35 knots.
Wilma did strengthen again after it got out over open water.
Note that I am not saying that a hurricane could never penetrate to The Villages, but that
hurricanes lose strength when they move over land.