# Floridopers: The Wilma Watch Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734 "2005-10-18T12:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/1 "2005-10-18T12:18:54Z")
Well, we dodged bullets this summer, as opposed to last year, when we were slammed with four hurricanes in a row. But it looks like [Wilma](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT24/refresh/AL2405W5+gif/150811W_sm.gif) may be the one we need to keep an eye on. I believe the url is updated automatically, so it should stay current. We’ll know more as the week goes on. Meantime, make sure you have plenty of water, candles, batteries, liquor, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/2 "2005-10-18T13:58:52Z")
Thanks, **Ivylass**. I was going to start one on Wilma this morning. I don’t like that slice to the right that they are forecasting. Could put it right up through Tampa Bay very easily. Maybe you’ll see us all on the evening news later this week, sitting on our rooftops. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/3 "2005-10-18T14:02:32Z")
Yup, we just COULDN’T make it through the season without a blow! :rolleyes: And what’s up with this weekend thing? Don’t they ever arrive during the week?? ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/4 "2005-10-18T14:32:40Z")
My thoughts exactly **Tupug Anachi** We’re having the most gorgeous weather right now and I’m hunkered down in my little cube farm wishing for a day off. Maybe Wilma will take her time and not arrive until Monday. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/5 "2005-10-18T14:51:33Z")
What, _another_ hurricane? :eek: Good luck to everyone. If it has to hit, let’s hope it hits on a weekday 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/6 "2005-10-18T15:03:08Z")
Hopefully, the eastwards jag will occur well to the south, and pass it over the Everglades, where it will lose some steam. At that point, it’s leading edge won’t be able to pick up much water, and by the time it makes it to the East Coast, it won’t present much of a threat. I heard someone say “Target: Pompano,” earlier today; that makes it about 5 miles to the south of me, but really – it’s far too soon to tell. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/7 "2005-10-18T15:18:38Z")
That sounds like a good scenario. It also shortens the amount of time it gets to strengthen over the Gulf, which is generally good news, but right now the eastern wall will pass over Key West and looks like it will hit somewhere between Fort Myers and Naples. They’ve been saying this one is very erratic and moving quite slowly, so we won’t really know for sometime now. One thing I’ve learned about hurricanes is that they rarely, if ever, act exactly as expected. - Shibb, wondering if this one’s lastname is “Farnspoople”. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/8 "2005-10-18T15:23:07Z")
I checked and as far as I can tell there is no Bedrock, Florida. There isn’t a Fred, Barney, Betty, or Dino either. There is, however, a [Dinosaur World](http://www.dinoworld.net/) near Plant City. Hunker down, **shibb**. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/9 "2005-10-18T15:25:08Z")
Did the 11am advisory have it moving more north slightly from the 5am advisory? Crap. We’re accelerated at work. Ick ick ick. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/10 "2005-10-18T15:25:36Z")
Awww…dammit. Now that I have all this stuff planned a stupid hurricane comes to ruin my fun. Way to go. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/11 "2005-10-18T16:20:00Z")
> [@Tupug Anachi](#): > > I checked and as far as I can tell there is no Bedrock, Florida. There isn’t a Fred, Barney, Betty, or Dino either. There is, however, a [Dinosaur World](http://www.dinoworld.net/) near Plant City. Hunker down, **shibb**. Yeah, we see that one whenever we venture out to Touristopia. My mops even took the Shibblets and assorted neices and nephews there once. FWIW, I don’t really mind the threat of hurricanes so much as the threat of the overuse of the term “hunker down”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/12 "2005-10-18T16:31:41Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Yeah, we see that one whenever we venture out to Touristopia. My mops even took the Shibblets and assorted neices and nephews there once. > > FWIW, I don’t really mind the threat of hurricanes so much as the threat of the overuse of the term “hunker down”. > > 😃 But it’s a rule. I know this for a fact. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/13 "2005-10-18T17:07:53Z")
Ouch. That looks ugly. I know some folks who’re supposed to be flying to Cancun, Mexico on Saturday morning. Mebbe not. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/14 "2005-10-18T17:15:19Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Ouch. That looks ugly. I know some folks who’re supposed to be flying to Cancun, Mexico on Saturday morning. Mebbe not. Yeah, looks like they might want to rethink that. The bad part of all this is the damn thing could take a turn to anywhere right now. I really hope it decides to leave the western gulf coast alone. Of course I don’t wish it on anybody else either. Maybe we all do need to start blowing real hard. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/15 "2005-10-18T17:19:19Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Maybe we all do need to start blowing real hard. So many responses, so little time … ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/16 "2005-10-18T17:27:34Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Maybe we all do need to start blowing real hard. You do realize you don’t _actually_ blow, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/17 "2005-10-18T17:39:36Z")
Great. When did they decide it is going to behave like a curve ball? I hate hurricanes; they terrify my darling Marcie and I can do nothing to make them go away. At least we are not in a mandatory evacuation zone; if we have a horrendous tidal surge, we will be living on an island for a while. Heaven forfend that FEMA tries to help. ---
**Author:** ![Poonther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Poonther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poonther)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/18 "2005-10-18T18:33:37Z")
As of 2pm 10.18.05 all the models are forecasting a sharp curve to the right on or about Friday night/Saturday morning with the most northern model showing landfall on the west coast near Ft Myers or Naples and crossing the State entering the Atlantic along the Treasure Coast. Most of the models show landfall near Flamigo or just along the Keys with entry into the Atlantic along the southern Gold Coast. If that’s the case, most of you in Central Florida (Orlando/Tampa Bay) will be fine. Keep in mind that late October/November hurricanes are tough to forecast because of the cold fronts that can effect them and rapidly accelerate the hurricanes. Also this time of year there usually is a lot of dry area in areas of the Gulf and that creates havoc on the intensity forecast. Right now they are saying a Cat. 3 (125mph) at landfall, but they suck, I mean suck at long range intensity forecast. I think things will not be clear on the track until at least Thursday night and the intensity not until at least Friday or Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/19 "2005-10-18T18:59:29Z")
[NY Times Online](http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/36191557/761739) is reporting it might go up to a Category 4 by Saturday. Stay safe, all of you. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734/20 "2005-10-18T19:01:47Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > You do realize you don’t _actually_ blow, don’t you? Yeah, that’s just a figure of speech. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridopers-the-wilma-watch-thread/326734.md?page=2)