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Tropical storm Wilma forms
17/10/2005 11:15 - (SA)
Miami - Tropical storm Wilma formed on Monday in the western Caribbean, tying the record for the most storms in an Atlantic season and following a path that could potentially menace the US Gulf Coast later this week as a hurricane.
Wilma is the 21st named storm of the season. The only other time that as many storms formed since record keeping began 154 years ago was in 1933.
Wilma had top sustained winds near 64km/h, just above the 63km/h threshold for tropical storms. It was centred about 280km southeast of Grand Cayman and drifting southwest near 5km/h.
A hurricane watch was issued for the Cayman Islands, meaning hurricane conditions could be felt there within 36 hours. The depression is expected to bring heavy rain in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, with as much as 30cm possible in some areas, forecasters said.
Long-term forecasts show the storm heading into the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday or Friday. Forecasters said high water temperatures and other conditions were favourable for it to become a significant hurricane.
- AP
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