<Ul> <Li> Florida </Li> <Li> The Bahamas </Li> </Ul> <Ul> <Li> Commons: Wilma images </Li> </Ul> <Li> Commons: Wilma images </Li> <P> Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, as well as the most intense recorded in the western hemisphere until Hurricane Patricia in 2015 . Part of the record - breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, which included three of the top ten most intense Atlantic hurricanes ever (along with #4 Rita and #7 Katrina), Wilma was the twenty - second storm, thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, fourth Category 5 hurricane, and second-most destructive hurricane of the 2005 season . A tropical depression formed in the Caribbean Sea near Jamaica on October 15, headed westward, and two days later intensified into a tropical storm which turned abruptly southward and was named Wilma . Wilma continued to strengthen, and eventually became a hurricane on October 18 . Shortly thereafter, explosive intensification occurred, and in only 24 hours, Wilma became a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 185 miles per hour (298 km / h). </P>

When did hurricane wilma hit the united states