Wilma is grazing Cancun and dawdling toward the U.S. faster and slower with a trajectory that is merely playing with our heads. Will she hit Miami, Tampa, Cuba, none of the above, or all of the above?
When? First she moved fast and was due to hit Florida early Saturday; now NOAA says (in the 4PM predictions), that she will center over Cuba at 1 PM on Sunday.
A website for Playa del Carmen's huge foreign community has reprinted a State Department announcement. "This Public Announcement is being issued to urge U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risk of travel to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico at this time due to the threat posed by Hurricane Wilma. The storm is predicted to pass near the Yucatan Peninsula on October 21."
It goes on to advise that the U.S. Consulate in Merida will be available on Friday morning for emergency services, though only via cellphone. "If staying in Cancun, Cozumel or on the Riviera Maya, U.S. citizens are urged to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Visitors to Cancun, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya should be familiar with their hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans, policies, or procedures.
Please see the Caribbean Public Announcement regarding hurricane season dated July 8, 2005 on the Department's website at State Department Travel Advisories."
"Updated information on travel in Mexico may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For further information please consult the Consular Information Sheets for Mexico available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov or contact the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City at 011-52-55-5080-2000; U.S. Consulate in Merida at 011-52-999925-5011, after hours 011-52999-947-2285; Consular Agency in Cancun at 011-52998-883-0272 or after hours at 011-52998-845-4364; Consular Agency in Cozumel at 011-52-987-872-4574 or after hours at 011-52-987-876-0624."
Information from and about Playa del Carmen can be found at Playa del Carmen Information.
The morning prediction:
Click to enlarge.
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