Tropical Storm — Martin, Florida

2005-10-24 · Martin, Florida

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Wilma crossed the southern Florida Peninsula from the southwest exiting the state and moving over the Atlantic Ocean over the Martin/Palm Beach county line. Hurricane Wilma was riding northeast along the first strong cold front of the Fall season. Cold dry air was being pulled into east central Florida as Wilma was moving off the south Florida coast. In Brevard County Hurricane Wilma produced widespread minor wind damage with trees and power lines down and damage to roofs and out buildings. As much as 10 to 13 inches of rain fell across the central and north part of the county. About 200 homes were flooded in the town of Cocoa. Total crop loss including citrus equals $3 million. Melbourne International Airport recorded a wind gust to 77 mph (67 knots) with sustained winds of 48 mph (42 knots). Strongest wind in the county was recorded at a 60 foot tall NASA wind tower with a wind gust to 94 mph (82 knots) and sustained wins of 64 mph(56 knots). Four tornadoes touched down in the county producing minor damage except one that came off the Atlantic and took the top floor off a beach front residence. There were no injuries. Tornado damage was around $100 thousand. Lowest recorded surface pressure was 991.5 millibars in Palm Bay.In Indian River County Wilma produced widespread minor wind damage with trees and power lines down and damage to roofs and out buildings. A communication tower was blown down, damaging the county EOC. Total crop loss including vegetables, citrus and sugar equals $20 million. As much as 6 inches of rain fell across the county. Vero Beach Airport recorded a wind gust to 55 mph (48 knots) with sustained winds of 40 mph (35 knots). Lowest recorded surface pressure was 975.3 millibars in Vero Beach.The eyewall of Hurricane Wilma passed moved off shore just south of St. Lucie County. In the county the strongest winds occurred as the winds backed to the north with the large eye of Wilma just offshore to the east. Estimated wind gust of 100 mph occurred along the beaches. Two mobile homes were destroyed, otherwise Hurricane Wilma produced widespread minor wind damage across the county with trees and power lines down and damage to roofs and out buildings. A minor league baseball stadium was severely damaged and the roof was blown off of the St. Lucie County civic center. Total crop loss including vegetables, citrus and sugar equals $28 million. As much as 6 inches of rain fell across the county. Ft. Pierce Airport recorded a wind gust to 77 mph (68 knots) with sustained winds of 52 mph (45 knots). Lowest recorded surface pressure was 968.5 millibars in Ft. Pierce Airport. The northern half of the eyewall of Hurricane Wilma moved over coastal Martin County as Wilma moved off shore. The strongest winds in Martin County occurred as the winds backed to the north with the large eye of Wilma over the coast of Martin County. Estimated wind gust over 100 mph occurred along the beaches. Wilma produced widespread wind damage across the county. Forty eight residences were destroyed and 120 suffered major damage. Most of these were mobile homes. More than 90 percent of Martin County was without electricity. The county's main hospital, Martin Memorial, sustained enough damage to stop taking new patients. As much as 3 to 5 inches of rain fell across the county. Total crop loss including vegetables, citrus and sugar equals $48 million. The highest reported wind gust was 108 mph (94 knots) at the Martin County EOC at Hobe Sound. Lowest recorded surface pressure was 992.0 millibars from a vessel in the St. Lucie River. Actual surface pressure was likely lower. During the passage of Hurricane Wilma a total of four tornadoes occurred, all in Brevard County. Total damage for Hurricane Wilma in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties was $97.5 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5477621. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.