Hurricane Wilma was the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, with a central pressure of 882 millibars. In October 2005, during the record-shattering 2005 season, it underwent the most extreme rapid intensification ever observed in the basin, devastated Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and then raced across South Florida, knocking out power to millions.
Record-Breaking Intensification
Wilma formed in the Caribbean in mid-October 2005. On October 18–19 it intensified explosively, its central pressure plunging about 97 mb in 24 hours, the fastest deepening ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, to a record low of 882 mb, with peak sustained winds of 185 mph (300 km/h).1 At peak intensity Wilma's eye contracted to a pinhole only a few miles across, among the smallest ever observed.
The NHC reports a 97 mb pressure fall in 24 hours, the largest in the Atlantic record available to its authors. Pressure falls and wind increases are related measures of intensification, but they are not interchangeable.1
Wilma exhausted the 21-name Atlantic list for 2005. The season ultimately had 28 named-strength storms, including one discovered after the season that never received a name. Aircraft measured 884 mb with nonzero surface wind; analysts estimated a central minimum of 882 mb.1
Landfalls
Wilma struck Cozumel and the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula on October 21–22 as a Category 4 hurricane, moving slowly enough to prolong destructive winds, surge, and rainfall.1
Wilma then accelerated northeast across the Gulf and made landfall in southwest Florida near Cape Romano on October 24 as a Category 3 with winds near 120 mph (195 km/h), crossing the peninsula in only about 4.5 hours.1
Florida Impacts
Wilma’s winds caused widespread outages and building damage across South Florida, including broken high-rise windows and agricultural losses. Its rapid crossing did not prevent severe impacts.1
The NHC attributes 23 direct deaths to Wilma across Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Florida, and the Bahamas. Its 2011 revision estimates U.S. damage at $21.007 billion in 2005 dollars; this excludes damage in other countries.1
Legacy
Wilma was the last Atlantic hurricane of 2005, but named storms continued afterward. Its 882 mb central pressure is the Atlantic record; eastern Pacific Hurricane Patricia reached 872 mb in 2015. Florida’s next hurricane landfall was Hermine in September 2016, just under 11 years later. See hurricane season trends.
