[11 p.m.] After spending the day in Naples, I’ve switched base camp to a hotel about 12 miles north in Bonita Springs. The place is booked solid with all sorts of people—locals, tourists, kids and even pets. I just switched on the Weather Channel and meteorologist Paul Goodloe looks a little stunned when they hand him the latest update on Wilma: she’s regained strength to become a Category 3 again, with winds at 115 mph. There’s lightning and tornadoes breaking out across the state and I’m wondering if Wilma will strengthen even more before tomorrow’s expected landfall. It just goes to show you that will the advances in weather forcasting the last 20 years, these killer storms always have a large measure of unpredictability.

I keep looking at the radar on TV and looking outside my window and the two just don’t jive. It should be coming down sideways in sheets, but it’s fairly calm here with only occasional light rain and breezes. I have a feeling that when things turn sour, it will happen in a hurry. I’m wondering what things will look like here early tomorrow morning—and if we’ll have power at this hotel.