Hurricane Warning flags fly at new Weather Forecast Office in Key West. (Photo by Paul Schaafsma, WFO Key West)

(Oct. 24, 2005) - Resurrecting a tradition that was formally abandoned by the National Weather Service several decades ago, the staff at the new Weather Forecast Office in Key West, Fla. hoisted hurricane flags as Wilma bore down on the island. Instead of a common flag pole, the flags were flown on a replica of a ship's mast and yardarm.

Meteorologist-in-Charge Matt Strahan says the mast will also be used to fly small craft, storm warning and tropical storm flags. "They are partly for show, but we are in a high visibility area and flying them shows we think something serious is coming."

The new office was designed to withstand wind speeds and storm surge levels associated with catastrophic (Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) hurricanes. Constructed with a combination of concrete, reinforcing steel and hurricane impact resistant glass, the new building is designed to withstand sustained winds of 165 mph.

The interior also contains an additional concrete box designed to serve as a Severe Weather Occupancy Shelter to protect National Weather Service employees against winds up to 250 mph. The office is located on a portion of the island that is six feet above sea level. The interior floors are an additional seven feet above the grade - for a combined height of 13 feet above sea level - or two feet above the anticipated storm tide for a Category 5 hurricane.

But it was a weaker Wilma that passed north of Key West, sparing the island and the new office from that worst case scenario. Nevertheless, it was a powerful storm and Strahan said the facility provided additional peace of mind for the staff and family members who sheltered there. "It's so nice to have a facility that can accommodate the operations plus our families. It's so difficult to evacuate from the Keys and just being able to be with your family during a disaster, makes it so much easier to do your job."

Hurricane Wilma is part of a hurricane season replete with "firsts".

• At one time, Hurricane Wilma was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin.
• A record of seven named storms had formed by the end of July.
• Five of those storms formed during July (another record).
• The 2005 Hurricane Season is the first on record to produce three Category 5 hurricanes.
• It is the first hurricane season in recorded history to exceed 21 named storms. With the formation of Tropical Storm Alpha (from the Greek Alphabet), the season stands at 22 named storms, 12 of which became hurricanes -- and six of those were major (Category 3 or higher) hurricanes.

The 2005 Hurricane Season began June 1 and continues through November 30. Battered and storm weary citizens along the nation's Gulf and East Coasts can only hope they've seen the last of these "firsts".

Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Wilma as it passed to the north of WFO Key West around 5 am EDT October 24, 2005