Hurricane Wilma gained strength as she made her way over the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, upgrading to a Category 3 storm before slamming into South Florida early Monday morning.
As of 9 a.m. Eastern time, the hurricane's center was located inland about 45 miles southwest of West Palm Beach, Fla. A much faster storm than Hurricanes Katrina or Rita, Wilma is moving toward the northeast at about 25 mph and a continued increased forward speed is expected during the next 24 hours, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Wilma's track is expected to emerge off the east coast of the southern Florida peninsula and move into the Atlantic Ocean by Monday afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Wilma's current maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph with higher gusts, making Wilma a Category 2 storm over land. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 90 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
On Friday, the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association spoke with Lawn & Landscape, noting that members were taking precautions and preparing for another big storm. Lawn & Landscape will have updates on the hurricane's impact on the region as information becomes available.
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