<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> <P> Wilma's intensity slowly leveled off after becoming a Category 5 hurricane, and winds had decreased to 150 miles per hour (240 km / h) before it reached the Yucatán Peninsula on October 20 and 21 . After crossing the Yucatán, Wilma emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane . As Wilma began accelerating to the northeast, gradual re-intensification occurred, and the hurricane was upgraded to Category 3 on October 24 . Shortly thereafter, Wilma made landfall in Cape Romano, Florida with winds of 120 miles per hour (190 km / h). As Wilma was crossing Florida, it briefly weakened back to a Category 2 hurricane, but again re-intensified as it reached the Atlantic Ocean . The hurricane intensified into a Category 3 hurricane for the last time but dropped below that intensity while accelerating northeastward . By October 26, Wilma transitioned into an extratropical cyclone southeast of Nova Scotia . </P>

What category was wilma when it hit miami