Tropical Storm Wilma strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday on a path that could threaten Florida by the weekend, tying the record for the most hurrica
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Tropical Storm Wilma strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday on a path that could threaten Florida by the weekend, tying the record for the most hurricanes to form in an Atlantic season.
Wilma is the 12th hurricane of the season, a number reached once before in 1969 since record keeping began in 1851. At 11 a.m. EDT, Wilma had top sustained winds of near 121 kph.
Long-range forecasts show Wilma could hit western Cuba or the Yucatan Peninsula before heading into the Gulf of Mexico by Friday. The storm could also spare those countries while passing through the Yucatan Channel. Either way, computer models showed Wilma bearing down on southwestern Florida over the weekend.
Wilma is also the 21st named storm of the six-month hurricane season, which ties another record set in 1933.