Hurricane Wilma

The popular Mexican resort towns of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Cancún all suffered significant damage from Wilma, causing major loss of tourism income. This is comparable to the Old English poem The Dream of the Rood. The economic impact isn't limited to the United States, however. Some churches use the same stripped Christmas tree as a Christian cross at Easter. Furthermore, a long anticipated concert by the industrial rock band, Nine Inch Nails, expected to have taken place Monday, October 24th, was postponed to another date, yet to be announced. Such individuals and Christian denominations are unlikely to celebrate Christmas at all, for the same reason, such as the United Church of God. Due to roof damage caused by Wilma and the loss of power at the BankAtlantic Center, the Panthers also had to postpone their October 29 matchup against the Washington Capitals. Some Christians, again a minority, feel that since "Christmas Trees" are not biblically ordained, they should not be used.

The NHL rescheduled its Saturday, October 22 regular-season game between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers to Monday, December 5. The only consistancies with Christmas tree customs seem to be that both are made of wood and both are decorated. West Virginia vs South Florida has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 3. They would also carry it from place to place as an object to be feared and worshipped. University of Miami has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 19. A full study of the passage shows that the people would cut down a tree and work it with a chisel to engrave an image in it. Georgia Tech vs. In other English translations of the Bible the verses more explicitly refer to the practice of making idols to be worshipped:.

The NCAA postponed two college football games scheduled in south Florida on Saturday, October 22. Interpreting those verses as a ban on Christmas trees may be more common among individuals and Christian denominations that are part of the King-James-Only Movement. The NFL moved up its regular-season game between Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins to 7pm on Friday, October 21 in preparation of the hurricane. Some Christians, albeit a minority, feel that the practice of having "Christmas Trees" is prohibited by the Book of Jeremiah 10:1-5 which says,. Damage to sugarcane crops is critical and widespread. A recent campaign spearheaded by conservative Fox News Channel contributors Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity has resulted in a backlash from some Christian groups and individuals who feel the designation "holiday tree" is part of an alleged war on Christmas. Also, Florida's sugar Industry was hard hit, the cropping season had already started and had to be halted indefinitely. The term holiday tree has, since at least 1990 (and perhaps before), been used by some in the United States, Canada and the UK to reflect the winter holiday season instead of any specific religious holiday.

As dynamic models have moved the storm's track east over Florida, oil futures eased as worries of another direct hit on the oil producing regions of the Gulf of Mexico subsided. The term comes from the appearance of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree in the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. ^[32]. Some tree buyers intentionally adopt such trees, feeling sympathetic to their plights. This is compounded by problems caused last year by Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne, which devastated Florida's orange crop, destroying many groves entirely. The term Charlie Brown Christmas tree can be used to described any sad-looking, malformed little tree. Wilma's potential for damage to orange trees in Florida could have an impact on several upcoming growing cycles. President Jimmy Carter only lit the crowning star atop the Tree in 1979 in honor of the Americans being held hostage in Iran; in 1980, the tree was only fully lit for 417 seconds, one second for each day the hostages had been in captivity.

Orange juice futures reached the highest level in six years on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, closing up 2.9 cents at $1.118 per pound. Today, the lighting of the National Tree is part of what has become a major holiday event at the White House. Many people later admitted they underestimated Wilma's power (Category 3) as she approached South Florida (Wilma was expected to weaken to a Category 1 as she reached the east coast), and failed to take the precautions that they would have taken with a stronger storm. The United States' National Christmas Tree is lit each year south of the White House in Washington, D.C. Communication was also difficult -- land lines were damaged, while cellular towers were either damaged, without power, or overloaded in capacity. In some cases the trees represent special commemorative gifts, such as in Trafalgar Square in London where the City of Oslo presents a tree to the people of London as a token of appreciation for the British support of Norwegian resistance during the Second World War and in Newcastle upon Tyne, where the 15 m tall main civic Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city of Bergen, Norway in thanks for the part played by soldiers from Newcastle in liberating Bergen from Nazi occupation. Much of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties were told to boil water. In some cities festivals are organised around the decoration and display of multiple trees as charity events.

Gasoline was in high demand for cars and generators; six-hour waits were not uncommon, due to lack of power to pump the fuel. Many cities, towns, and department stores put up public Christmas trees outdoors for everyone to enjoy, such as the Rich's Great Tree in Atlanta, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City and the large Christmas tree at Victoria Square in Adelaide. Any traffic lights still standing were not working, causing an increase in traffic problems. The "First Christmas Tree in America" is also claimed by Easton, Pennsylvania, where German settlers purportedly erected a Christmas tree in 1816. Power outages in southeastern Florida, notably in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County, compounded the difficulties South Floridians faced following Wilma. Windsor Locks, Connecticut claims that a Hessian soldier put up a Christmas tree in 1777 while imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House, thus making it the home of the first Christmas tree in New England. In addition, a tornado may have touched down in Miami-Dade County, causing damage to the South Beach Community Hospital. There are several cities in the United States which lay claim to that country's first Christmas tree.

Broward and Palm Beach counties were hit particularly hard by the many tornadoes in the western portion of the hurricane. Such patriotic prints of the British royal family at Christmas celebrations helped popularise the Christmas tree in Britain and among the anglophile American upper class. Damage was widespread throughout South Florida. Images of the royal family with their Christmas tree at Osborne House were illustrated in English magazines, initially as a woodcut in the Illustrated London News of December 1848, and copied in the United States at Christmas 1850 (illustration, left). This prompted many residents to switch service providers [31]. The generous Prince Albert also presented large numbers of trees to schools and army barracks at Christmas. Cable television and internet services as well as cell phone services were unavailable for up to 2 months in some areas. In 1847, Prince Albert wrote: "I must now seek in the children an echo of what Ernest [his brother] and I were in the old time, of what we felt and thought; and their delight in the Christmas-trees is not less than ours used to be".

More than 20 days later, some residents and business owners remained without electric service. After her marriage to her German cousin, Prince Albert, the custom became even more widespread. Florida Power and Light, the largest electricity utility in the state, reported more than 3,241,000 customers had lost power, equivalent to approximately 6,000,000 people. All the presents being placed round the trees...". Hurricane Wilma caused widespread destruction of critical infrastructure, including power, water and sewer systems. Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with the custom, in her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old Princess wrote: "After dinner...we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room...There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. The airport has reported $12 million in damages, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced by King George III's German Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, but did not spread much beyond the royal family.

In Boca Raton, a city in southeastern Palm Beach County, the local Boca Raton Airport suffered extensive damage, including the collapse of two hangars, planes flipped over, and hangar doors blown in. In France, the first Christmas tree was introduced in 1840 by the duchess of Orleans. At least three deaths are blamed on Hurricane Wilma in Collier County and widespread wind and water damage is commonplace across the county. Princess Henrietta von Nassau-Weilburg introduced the Christmas tree to Vienna in 1816, and the custom spread across Austria in the following years. Widespread roof damage is evident across the county outside of the City of Naples itself. In the early 19th century, the custom became popular among the nobility and spread to royal courts as far as Russia. 90% of all mobile homes in East Naples have been destroyed, while 30% of the mobile homes in all of Collier County suffered the same fate. It was regarded as a Protestant custom by the Catholic majority along the lower Rhine, and was spread there only by Prussian officials who were moved there in the wake of the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

There has been damage to the 90 high-rise condominiums in Coastal Naples, where some levels have been blown out completely by the high winds brough by the storm (much like the damage in downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale). The Christmas tree remained confined to the upper Rhineland for a relatively long time. Out of the 170 signaled intersections in Collier County, 130 have been destroyed. Wax candles are attested from the late 18th century. The Naples Airport was severely damaged by the hurricane, while areas like Immokalee and East Naples extreme and widespread roof damage to numerous homes and communities. By the early 18th century, the custom had become common in towns of the upper Rhineland, but it had not yet spread to rural areas. The point of landfall, between Marco Island and Everglades City, is largely uninhabited but the communities around landfall suffered extreme damage. One Strasbourg priest, Johann Konrad Dannerhauer, complains about the custom as distracting from the word of God.

Hundreds in the county, if not thousands, have been left homeless by the category three hurricane. During the 17th century, the custom entered family homes. The Naples Metropolitan Area received the brunt of Hurricane Wilma. The city of Riga, Latvia claims to be home of the first holiday tree, an octagonal plaque in the town square reads "The First New Years Tree in Riga in 1510", in eight different languages. Even while the center of Wilma was still a long way away from Florida, its effects were already being felt with its expansive outer bands. Another early reference is from Basel, where the taylor apprentices carried around town a tree decorated with apples and cheese in 1597. Some Miami high-rises also suffered severe damage during the storm. It can be traced to 16th century Germany; Ingeborg Weber-Keller (Marburg professor of European ethnology) identified as the earliest reference a Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 which reports how a small fir was decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers, and erected in the guild-house, for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas day.

In the city of Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, several highrise buildings suffered extensive damage, including the 14-floor Broward County School Board building and the Broward County Courthouse, which was forced to remain closed for two weeks as a result of the storm, along with Broward County Public Schools, which remained closed for two weeks. The modern custom, however, although likely related, cannot be proven to be directly descended from pagan tradition. Key West was under 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 metres) of water from the storm surge, and major flooding was reported throughout the Keys. According to one legend, Saint Boniface attempted to introduce the idea of trinity to the pagan tribes using the cone-shaped evergreen trees because of their triangular appearance. Early reports suggested the damage from Wilma was extensive and widespread over South Florida due to winds and flooding. According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the pagan kings sacrificed nine males of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year. ^[30]. Among early Germanic tribes the Yule tradition was celebrated by sacrificing male animals and slaves by suspending them on the branches of trees.

^[29] The city of Havana was also without power and wind damage was reported as a result of winds up to 85 mph (140 km/h). Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor's Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. Over 250 homes were heavily flooded and rescuers required scuba gear, inflatable rafts and amphibious vehicles to reach the most severely flooded areas. A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the United Kingdom. Coastal flooding was reported in many areas due to Wilma's storm surge and flooding from the outer bands, particularly around Havana. Medieval legends, nevertheless, tended to concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at Christmas time. [28]. In Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus (dubbed by some modern scholars as a life-death-rebirth deity), the god carries a tapering coniferous tree.

[27] It was the costliest natural disaster in Mexican history, according to local insurers. The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life. Insured damage in Mexico is estimated at between $1-3 billion, which would likely translate to $2-6 billion (USD) in total damage. After the holidays, dead trees can be put to other uses:. The destruction left behind by Wilma in the Yucatán has also severely damaged the tourist industry there, as the storm affected some of the tourist hot spots of Mexico. These tips will ensure the tree will stay fresh for several weeks. [26]. This tradition seems to be limited mostly to the United States.

The road trip to Mérida was very dangerous and impassable for Taxi yet people still payed upwards of $200 for a ride. Flocking can be done with a professional sprayer at a tree lot (or the manufacturer if it is artificial), or at home from a spray can, and either can be rather messy. US embasy told tourist to go to Mérida, the next day they changed their game plan because Mérida had become so packed with people. Typically it would be sprayed all over the tree from the sides, which produced a look different from real snow, which settles in clumps atop branches. Buses have begun to come into Cancún from Mérida, where tourists are hoping to find flights home. In the 1980s some trees were sprayed with fluffy white flocking to simulate snow. Thousands of tourists remain stranded in shelters, and the priority is sending them home now, according to President Vicente Fox. A plain mat of fabric or plastic may also be placed under the stand and skirt to protect the floor from scratches or water.

After Wilma passed, there was a sense of desperation that developed in the region, due to the fact that people were being held in shelters due to the extensive damage. Generally, the difference between a mat and skirt is simply that a mat is placed under the tree stand, while a skirt is placed over it, having a hole in the middle for the trunk, with a slot cut to the outside edge so that it can be placed around the tree (beneath the branches) easily. ^[25]. As Christmas presents arrive, they are generally placed underneath the tree on the tree skirt (depending on tradition, all Christmas gifts, or those too large to be hung on the tree, as in "presents on the tree" of the song "White Christmas"). There have also been extensive reports of looting of many businesses in the Yucatán, particularly in Cancún. A nativity scene, model train, or Christmas village may be placed on the mat or skirt. Communication is limited at this point as telephone and electric services are completely out in the affected areas. What began as ordinary cloth has now often become much more ornate, some having embroidery or being put together like a quilt.

It is comparable to the scene after Hurricane Emily back in July 2005, a storm of similar intensity but faster moving. Even when dripless candles, electric lights and artificial trees have been used, a skirt is still usually used as a decorative feature: among other things, it hides the tree stand, which may be unsightly but which is an important safety feature of home trees. On Cozumel, the damage is extensive, but not as catastrophic as originally feared according to a witness, with many broken windows, fallen trees and power lines but less in the way of structural damage. Since candles were used to light trees until electric bulbs came about, a mat (UK) or "skirt" (US) was often placed on the floor below the tree to protect it by catching the dripping candle wax, and also to collect any needles that fall. The Governor of Quintana Roo, Félix González Canto, said in an interview: "Never in the history of Quintana Roo have we seen a storm like this." ^[24]. Many people also decorate outdoor trees with food that birds and other wildlife will enjoy, such as garlands made from unsalted popcorn or cranberries, orange halves, and seed-covered suet cakes. ^[23]. Conversely, trees decorated by professional designers for department stores and other institutions will usually have a "theme"; a set of predominant colours, multiple instances of each type of ornament, and larger decorations that may be more complicated to set up correctly.

^[22] One gymnasium used as a shelter lost its roof, which forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people staying there. Individuals' decorations vary wildly, typically being an eclectic mix of family traditions and personal tastes; even a small unattractive ornament, if passed down from a parent or grandparent, may come to carry considerable emotional value and be given pride of place on the tree. Rainfall amounts in excess of 23 inches (590 mm) were reported in several areas, with Isla Mujeres reporting 64 inches (1,637mm) — three times what Hurricane Gilbert dropped. Baubles are another extremely common decoration, and usually consist of a fairly small hollow glass or plastic sphere coated with a thin metallic layer to make them reflective, and then with a further coating of a thin pigmented polymer in order to provide colouration. Several homes had also collapsed. Strands of tinsel may be hung in groups from longer branches to simulate icicles, though this trend has gradually fallen off since the late 1970s. However, according to pictures and television reports, there is extensive structural damage throughout the Cancún area, as well as significant flooding and many downed trees and power lines and scattered debris. Lighting with candles or electric lights (fairy lights) is commonly done, and a tree topper completes the ensemble.

Information on damage remains unclear. Delicate mould-blown and painted coloured glass Christmas ornaments were a specialty of Czech glass factories from the late 19th century, and have since become a large industry, complete with famous-name designers.
. Tinsel and several types of garland or ribbon are commonly used to decorate a Christmas tree. Heavy damage to coastal areas was reported, and parts of the northwestern area of the island were washed out from the surge. Organically grown Christmas trees are available in some markets, and as with many other crops, are widely held to be better for the environment. The northwestern Bahamas, particularly Grand Bahama Island, received a storm surge that was reported as high as 15 feet in some areas. In some cases management of Christmas tree crops can result in poor habitat since it involves heavy input of pesticides and herbicides.

poisoning, illnesses, waiting for help). Live trees are typically grown as a crop and replanted in rotation after cutting, often providing suitable habitat for wildlife. Indirect deaths indicate those caused by hurricane-related accidents (including car accidents, fires or other incidents), as well as clean-up and evacuation incidents and health issues (e.g. Real trees also help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while growing. Direct deaths indicate those caused by the direct effects of the winds, flooding, tornadoes, storm surge or oceanic effects of Wilma. Real trees are used only for a short time, but can be recycled and used as mulch or used to prevent erosion [2]. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]. Artificial trees can be used for many years, but are usually non-recyclable, ending up in landfills.

Wilma was also blamed for at least 26 indirect deaths. Polyethylene trees are less toxic, though more expensive, than PVC trees [1]. In addition, a drowning was reported on Maule Lake in northern Miami-Dade County from a capsized boat. For instance, the bark of a real tree can be used to surface an artificial trunk. ^[16] Three more direct deaths were reported in Florida, one in rural Collier County and two in Palm Beach County, all due to wind-blown debris. A small amount of real-tree material is used in some artificial trees. CNN reports that a Coral Springs man who was inspecting damage during the eye of the hurricane was killed by a falling tree, according to a Broward County official. Some trees have a warning that dust or leaves from the tree should not be eaten or inhaled.

At least 35 Hurricane Wilma-related deaths were reported in the United States, all in Florida. Artificial trees are usually made out of PVC, a toxic material which is often stabilised with lead. ^[15]. There is some debate as to whether artificial or real trees are better for the environment. In Cuba, a bus carrying evacuees crashed, killing four people, including three foreign tourists. Real potted ones are often sold like this, and artificial ones often come with a "root ball" but only sometimes with decorations. ^[14]. A long-standing and simple gimmick is conifer seedlings sold with cheap decorations attached by soft pipe cleaners.

Another death was reported in the state of Yucatán due to a falling tree, but no other details were available. Past gimmicks include small talking or singing trees, and trees which blow "snow" (actually small styrofoam beads) over themselves, collecting them in a decorative cardboard bin at the bottom and blowing them back up to the top through a tube hidden next to the trunk. Four deaths have also been reported on Cozumel and another in Cancún due to wind blowing a window out. Retailers also claimed that the trees were popular because they allowed larger presents to be placed beneath the trees. Two were in the Playa del Carmen area due to a gas explosion caused by the strong winds. Customers then wanted to replicate the inverted tree. At least eight deaths were reported in Mexico. They were originally sold as decorations for merchants that allowed customers to get closer to ornaments being sold.

^[13]. In 2005 inverted trees became popular. Almost 250 people were in emergency shelters on the island. Some are instead lit partly or completely by fibre optics, with the light in the base, and a rotating colour wheel causing various colours to shimmer across the tree. It pounded the island for a third day on October 18, 2005, flooding several low-lying communities and triggering mudslides that blocked roads and damaged several homes. Since the late 1990s, many indoor artificial trees come pre-strung with lights. Wilma claimed one death in Jamaica as a tropical depression on Sunday, October 16. Some skyscrapers will tell certain offices to leave their lights on (and others off) at night during December, creating a Christmas tree pattern.

^[12]. A few hotels and other buildings, both public and private, will string lights up from the roof to the top of a small tower on top of the building, so that at night it appears as a lit Christmas tree, often using green or other coloured lights. Mudslides were triggered from the outer bands in Haiti, killing at least 12 people. These lights are usually white, but often are green, red, red/green, blue/white, blue, or multicoloured, and sometimes with a small controller to fade colours back and forth. The last places to issue this warning sat within the gap between bands as tornadoes were observed as far north as Sumter, Marion, Pasco, and Polk Counties. lawns in the 2000s, along with 1990s spiral ones that hang from a central pole, both styles being lighted with standard miniature lights. Anticipating high winds all public school districts south of Marion closed their schools on Monday, October 24 in order to prevent possible harm to county employees and students. Outdoor branched trees made out of heavy white-enameled steel wires have become more popular on U.S.

^[11]. Other artificial trees which look nothing like a conifer except for the triangular or conical shape, are also used as tabletop decorations, such as a stack of ornaments. Curfews were put in place for several cities in Lee and Collier counties. More recent tinsel trees can be used fairly safely with lights. Hurricane shelters in the area were opened. They were instead lit by a spotlight or floodlight, often with a motorised rotating color wheel in front of it. Other areas that were included in the mandatory evacuation were Seagate, Parkshore, The Moorings, Coquina Sands, Olde Naples, Aqualane Shores, Port Royal and Royal Harbour. They were aluminium-coated paper, meaning that they also posed a great fire hazard if lights were put directly on them (warnings to this effect are still issued with most christmas tree lights).

Mandatory evacuations were in effect for all Collier County residents living West or South of US 41. The first trees which were not green were the metallic trees of the 1950s and 1960s. All campuses of the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa and the University of Central Florida were closed on Monday, October 24. Around 2003, some trees with molded-plastic branches started selling in the U.S.. Petersburg, Florida also evacuated by 5 pm EDT on October 20. Better trees also have more branch tips, the number usually listed on the box. Eckerd College in St. Most of the better trees have branches hinged to the pole, though the less-expensive ones generally still come separately.

Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers completed an evacuation; classes were canceled until further notice. Many trees now come in "slim" versions, to fit in smaller spaces. ^[10]. These trees have become a little more realistic every year, with a few deluxe trees containing multiple branch styles. The schools were closed to "allow parents and staff to prepare for the storm and potential evacuation", and also allowed "for needed preparation of schools to be used as hurricane shelters." The schools remained closed on Monday, October 24 as the hurricane made landfall. Many also have very short brown "needles" wound in with the longer green ones, to imitate the branch itself or the bases that each group of pine (but not other conifer) needles grows from. Also in Florida, all Collier County public schools were declared closed for Friday, October 21. Those first trees looked like long-needled pine trees, but later trees use flat PVC sheets to make the needles.

At least 300 Keys evacuees were housed at the Monroe County shelter at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County ^[9]. Each row of branches is a different size, colour coded at the base with paint or stickers for ease of assembly. County offices, schools and courts were closed Monday, October 24. The bases of the branches were then twisted together to form a large branch, which was then inserted by the user into a wooden pole (now metal with plastic rings) for a trunk. However, reports suggest that as many as 80% of residents may have ignored the evacuation order. They were made the same way, using animal hair (mainly pig bristles) and later plastic bristles, dyed pine-green colour, inserted between twisted wires that form the branches. A mandatory evacuation of residents was ordered for the Florida Keys in Monroe County. The first modern artificial Christmas trees were produced by companies which made brushes.

^[8]. in 1913, in the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog. In all, over 368,000 people were ordered to evacuate. The first feather trees came to the U.S. In Cuba, preparations were made to evacuate four western provinces, including the Isle of Youth ^[7]. Originating in Germany in the 19th century to prevent further deforestation, these "minimalist" trees show off small ornaments very well. In El Salvador, the National Emergency Committee was activated. The first artificial trees were tabletop feather trees, made from green-dyed goose feathers wound onto sticks drilled into a larger one, like the branches on a tree.

In Nicaragua, civil organizations were ordered to make hurricane preparations. They may also be necessary for people who have an allergy to conifers, and are increasingly popular in office settings. ^[6]. Artificial trees are sometimes even a necessity in some rented homes (especially apartment flats), due to the potential fire danger from a dried-out real tree, leading to their prohibition by some landlords. In neighboring Yucatán, classes were also suspended in 18 coastal municipalities. In the U.S., about 70% of trees are now artificial. Classes were suspended in the state's northern municipalities and residents of coastal areas were advised to take refuge further inland; tourists in the resort city of Cancún and its adjacent islands were told to return to their places of origin or head inland. At the end of the Christmas season artificial trees can be diassembled and stored compactly, but some artificial-tree owners simply store the whole decorated tree covered in a large bag, ready for the next year.

Quintana Roo government officials declared a red alert on the evening of Wednesday, October 19. Trees come in a number of colours and "species", and some come pre-decorated with coloured lights. On October 25, the storm gradually began weakening and was classified extratropical late in the afternoon, south of Nova Scotia, still at hurricane strength and affecting a large area of land and ocean with stormy conditions. Artificial trees are very popular, particularly in the U.S., where despite their lack of realism (both in looks and scent), they are considered more convenient and (if used for several years) less expensive than real trees. Unexpectedly, Wilma strengthened again over the Gulf Stream and again became a Category 3 hurricane north of the Bahamas, having regained all the strength it lost within 12 hours. In the UK, The British Christmas Tree Growers Association represents the interests of all those who grow Christmas trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Passing over the Florida peninsula, Wilma weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane, its strength when it exited Florida and entered the Atlantic about six hours later. In the past, Christmas trees were often harvested from wild forests, but now almost all are commercially grown on tree farms.

At landfall in Florida, Wilma had sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). The shearing also damages the highly attractive natural symmetry of unsheared trees. The reintensification of Hurricane Wilma is attributed to its interaction with the warm Loop Current in the Gulf. European tradition prefers the open aspect of naturally-grown, unsheared trees, while in North America (outside much of the Rockies) there is a preference for close-sheared trees with denser foliage, but less space to hang decorations. Despite encountering significant wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Wilma had regained some strength before making its third landfall just north of Everglades City, Florida, near Cape Romano, at 6:30 am EDT October 24 (10:30 UTC) as a Category 3 hurricane. Others are produced in a container and sometimes as topiary for a porch or patio. Many houses were flooded with 1 to 2 feet of seawater. These trees must be kept inside only for a few days, as the warmth will bring them out of dormancy, leaving them little protection when put back outside into the midwinter cold in most areas.

Most streets on Key West and nearby islands were flooded with at least 3' of seawater that destroyed tens of thousands of vehicles. However, the combination of root loss on digging, and the indoor environment of high temperature and low humidity is very detrimental to the tree's health, and the survival rate of these trees is low. After the hurricane had passed, a storm surge of up to 10 feet from the Gulf of Mexico completely inundated a large portion of the lower Keys. Some trees are sold live with roots and soil, often from a nursery, to be planted later outdoors and enjoyed (and often decorated) for years or decades. on Monday, October 24. Norfolk Island pine is sometimes used, particularly in the Oceania region, and in Australia some species of the genera Casuarina and Allocasuarina are also occasionally used as Christmas trees. The center of the eye was directly over the metropolitan areas of South Florida at 10:30 a.m. The long-needled Eastern White Pine is also used there.

Several cities in the South Florida Metropolitan Area, which includes Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, suffered severe damage as a result of the intense winds of the rapidly moving system. Virginia Pine is still available on some tree farms in the southeastern United States, however it has poor winter colour and sharp needles. The storm made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida and cut a diagonal swath across the southern portion of the Florida peninsula, with the northern part of the eye wall crossing into south and central Palm Beach County. Less-traditional conifers are sometimes used, such as Giant Sequoia, Leyland Cypress and Eastern Juniper. The storm's eye was now approximately 35 miles (56 kilometres) in diameter. Several other species are used to a lesser extent. Hurricane Wilma's southeast eyewall passed the near the island of Key West in the lower Florida Keys early on the morning of October 24, 2005. and in North America:.

The hurricane began accelerating in the early morning of October 23, exiting the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and entering the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. Commonly used species in northern Europe (including the UK) are:. Some portions of the Yucatán Peninsula experienced hurricane-force winds for well over 24 hours. The best species for use are species of fir (Abies), which have the major benefit of not shedding the needles when they dry out, as well as good foliage colour and scent; but species in other genera are also used. The eye slowly drifted northward, with the center passing just to the west of Cancún, Quintana Roo. Both natural and artificial trees are used as Christmas trees. Portions of the island of Cozumel experienced the calm eye of Wilma for several hours, with some blue skies and sunshine visible at times. In Germany, the Catholic people takes their Christmas trees down by the 2nd of February.

The hurricane's eye first passed over the island of Cozumel, and then made official landfall near Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo around midnight on October 22 EDT, with winds near 140 mph. In Europe, private Christmas trees are not usually put up until at least the middle of December and are usually taken down by the 6th of January. On October 21, Hurricane Wilma made landfall on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula as a powerful Category four hurricane, with winds over 150 mph. In more northern climates and into Canada, the tree (if not too dry) and other decorations are left up well into January. These wind speeds indicate that the low ambient pressure surrounding Wilma caused the 882 mb (26.05 inches) pressure to be less significant, involving a lesser pressure gradient, than under normal circumstances. homes is to put the tree up right after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) and to take it down right after the New Year. Before Wilma, no storm had recorded pressure less than 900 mb (26.58 inches) without being at Category 5. The most common tradition in U.S.

(In comparison, Hurricane Gilbert, the previous Atlantic record holder, had a pressure of 888 mb (26.22 inches) and also had winds of 185 mph.) In fact, at one point after Wilma’s period of peak intensity, it had a pressure of 894 mb (26.40 inches) but was actually below Category 5, with winds of just 155 mph. Modern commercialisation of Christmas has however resulted in trees being put up much earlier; in shops often as early as late October. 185 mph may seem incredibly fast, but for an 882 mb (26.05 inches) hurricane it is actually quite slow. Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve (24 December), and then removed the day after twelfth night (i.e., 6 January); to have a tree up before or after these dates was even considered bad luck. However, Wilma's winds were somewhat slower than the 196 mph implied by an 8 on the Dvorak scale. . Such a conversion would suggest that Wilma was more intense than Tip, were normal considerations in play. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas.

Indeed, under normal circumstances the Dvorak matrix would equate an 890 mb storm in the Atlantic basin -- a CI number of 8 -- with an 858 mb storm in the Pacific. A Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. These are closer to ambient pressures in the northwest Pacific basin. In coastal areas, trees can be used to protect sand dunes from erosion. Hurricane Wilma existed within an area of ambient pressure that was unusually low for the Atlantic basin, with ambient pressures below 1010 mb. Trees can be cut into small pieces and use for mulch or composted; some cities offer this service to their residents. The cyclone must be more intense to get its pressure commensurately lower, and its larger pressure gradient would make its winds faster. Use the tree as a bean or pea support pole.

If two cyclones have the same minimum pressure, but one is in an area of higher ambient pressure than the other, it is in fact stronger. Use needles in a sachet. The greater the gradient, the faster the winds generated. Use your tree as a bird feeder, hanging suet balls or other food from the branches. The change in pressure over a distance, the pressure gradient, causes hurricane winds. Place your tree away from heat sources, including radiators and windows that get a lot of direct sunlight. The minimum central pressure in a tropical cyclone is the best indicator of intensity, because pressure can be precisely measured while wind speeds have to be estimated, but more importantly, because the difference between a hurricane's low central pressure and the pressure of the surrounding environment is what drives the hurricane's strength. Only use plain water; research shows that additives such as sugar, cola and aspirin do more harm than good.

Super Typhoon Tip is the most intense tropical cyclone on record with a central pressure of 870 mbar (25.69 inHg). Check it daily. While Wilma was the most intense hurricane (a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic, Central Pacific or Eastern Pacific basins) ever recorded, there have been many more-intense typhoons in the Pacific (see link in the next section). Make sure your tree has a sturdy Christmas tree stand that holds 4-6 litres of water. Wilma was the first hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin (and possibly the first tropical cyclone in any basin), to have a central pressure below 900 mbar (26.58 inHg) while at Category 4 intensity (in fact, only two other Atlantic hurricanes had lower recorded central pressures than Wilma's at this point: the previous record holder, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988, and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935). This allows the tree to continue taking up water, by removing the resin-soaked wood at the original cut. By 11 pm EDT (03:00 UTC October 20), Wilma's pressure had risen to 894 mbar (26.40 inHg) as the hurricane weakened to Category 4, with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). Just before placing it in the stand, cut 2-3 centimeters off the trunk.

The pressure dropped further to 882 mbar (26.045 InHg) three hours later before rising slowly in the afternoon (while the storm remained a Category 5 hurricane). Before taking your tree inside, gently bang the tree on its stump several times to dislodge any loose needles. Shortly thereafter, Wilma set the record for the lowest central pressure recorded in an Atlantic hurricane when the pressure dropped to 884 mbar (26.10 inHg) at 8 am EDT (12:00 UTC) on October 19. If possible, the night before decorating, bring the tree into a partially heated area to allow it to adjust gradually to temperature changes. ^[5]. If decoration is not planned immediately, store the tree in a cool environment protected from the sun and wind. During its intensification on October 19, the hurricane's eye shrank to as small as 1.5 to 2.0 nautical miles in diameter, becoming one of the smallest eyes ever seen in a tropical cyclone. When transporting the tree, protect it from wind and road salts by covering it with plastic.

With Hurricanes Wilma, Katrina and Rita, 2005 became the first year on record in which three Category 5 hurricanes developed in the Atlantic basin. Stone Pine Pinus pinea (as small table-top trees). ^[4]. Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris. The global record deepening is 100 mbar (hPa) by Super Typhoon Forrest in 1983. Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii. Wilma's rapid deepending set a new record for the Atlantic basin, and is one of the most rapid deepening phases ever undergone by a tropical cyclone anywhere on Earth. Red Fir Abies magnifica.

(In comparison, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 – the previous recordholder for lowest Atlantic pressure – recorded a 78 mbar (2.30 inHg) pressure drop in a 24 hour period for a 3 mbar/h pressure drop.). Noble Fir Abies procera. In the 24-hour period from 8 am EDT October 18 (12:00 UTC) to the following morning, the pressure fell 90 mbar (2.65 inHg) and Wilma strengthened from a strong tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds to a powerful Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h)^[3]. Fraser Fir Abies fraseri. Over a 10-hour period Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a pressure drop of 78 mbar (2.30 inHg). Balsam Fir Abies balsamea. Hurricane Wilma began to intensify explosively at an incredible rate during late afternoon on October 18 around 4 pm EDT. Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris.

The 12th hurricane of the season, Wilma tied the record set in 1969 for most storms of hurricane strength in one season. Serbian Spruce Picea omorika. Moving slowly over warm water with little wind shear, Wilma strengthened steadily and became a hurricane on October 18. Norway Spruce Picea abies (generally the cheapest). With Wilma, the 2005 hurricane season tied the record for most storms in a season with the 1933 season. Noble Fir Abies procera. The storm was named "Wilma," the first time the 'W' name was used since alphabetical naming began in 1950. Nordmann Fir Abies nordmanniana (as in the photo).

24 reached tropical storm strength at 5 am EDT October 17 (09:00 UTC). Silver Fir Abies alba (the original species). T.D. The area of disturbed weather southwest of Jamaica slowly organized into Tropical Depression 24 on October 15. In the second week of October 2005, a large area of low pressure with several centers of thunderstorm activity developed over the western Atlantic and eastern Caribbean.

. Wilma also affected eleven countries with winds or rainfall, more than any other hurricane in recent history. history. At least 62 deaths have been reported, and damage is estimated at $16-20 billion ($12.2 billion in the US) (2005 US dollars) [2], ranking Wilma among the top 10 costliest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic and the sixth costliest storm in U.S.

state of Florida. Wilma made several landfalls, with the most destructive effects felt in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. Wilma was the second 21st storm in any season, and the earliest-forming 21st storm by nearly a month. It was the only time three Category 5 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic in one year, and Wilma was only the third Category 5 to develop in the month of October.

At its peak, it was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma set numerous records for both strength and seasonal activity. Hurricane Wilma was the twenty-first named storm, thirteenth hurricane, and sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 of the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. The NHC's archive on Hurricane Wilma.