Wilma was a tropical cyclone in the North Atlantic basin during the 2005 hurricane season. According to official best-track records maintained in the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), the storm's tracked lifecycle began on October 15, 2005, and concluded on October 26, 2005.
Intensity and Official Meteorological Records
Official records from the World Meteorological Organization responsible agency (hurdat_atl) document that Wilma achieved an estimated maximum sustained wind speed of 160.0 knots (approximately 296.3 km/h). The lowest recorded central pressure for the system reached 882.0 millibars.
These peak intensity metrics reflect post-storm analytical best-track data compiled by regional specialized meteorological authorities and archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Track History and Archive Overview
Wilma's historical track comprises 92 logged observation points in the IBTrACS archive, originating in the Caribbean Sea subbasin before moving across the wider North Atlantic basin. The track sequence reflects the system's main path from its initial recorded position on October 15, 2005, at 18:00 UTC through its final recorded position on October 26, 2005, at 18:00 UTC.
As a completed historical event, the recorded data represent finalized best-track values rather than real-time operational advisories.
Frequently asked questions
When did Wilma occur?
Wilma was tracked in the North Atlantic basin from October 15, 2005, to October 26, 2005, according to official IBTrACS records.
What was the peak intensity recorded for Wilma?
Wilma recorded a maximum sustained wind speed of 160.0 knots (296.3 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 882.0 millibars, as determined by the WMO responsible agency.
Which agency provided the official best-track data for Wilma?
The official track and intensity data for Wilma were compiled by hurdat_atl and archived within the NOAA/NCEI IBTrACS database.
Image credits
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center / Naval Research Laboratory — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.