Post by jasmine on Oct 19, 2005 18:56:22 GMT
Hurricane Wilma, which has swelled into a dangerous Category Five storm, is the strongest hurricane ever recorded, the US National Hurricane Center says.
It says the storm's barometric pressure - a measure of its strength - was the lowest on record in the Atlantic basin.
Its winds of near 175mph (280km/h) and heavy rains are threatening Cuba, Mexico and the Cayman Islands.
At least 11 people in have been killed in Haiti by floods and landslides associated with Wilma.
Forecasters say the hurricane presents a "significant threat" to Florida, which it is expected to hit this weekend.
Officials in the vulnerable Florida Keys island chain have ordered visitors and non-residents to leave.
news.bbc.co.uk
It says the storm's barometric pressure - a measure of its strength - was the lowest on record in the Atlantic basin.
Its winds of near 175mph (280km/h) and heavy rains are threatening Cuba, Mexico and the Cayman Islands.
At least 11 people in have been killed in Haiti by floods and landslides associated with Wilma.
Forecasters say the hurricane presents a "significant threat" to Florida, which it is expected to hit this weekend.
Officials in the vulnerable Florida Keys island chain have ordered visitors and non-residents to leave.
news.bbc.co.uk
