'Wilma' upgraded to category 5 hurricane

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Hurricane Wilma has strengthened to an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm as it approaches western Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

The storm has already triggered mudslides that killed up to 10 people in Haiti.

Wilma is the 21st tropical cyclone of the Atlantic hurricane season, tying the record for most storms set in 1933. It was also the 12th hurricane and tied the record for most hurricanes in a season, set in 1969. The season still has six weeks to run.

All the allocated storm names for 2005 have now been used (names beginning with X, Y and Z are not in use). The Greek alphabet will now be pressed into service for new storms. We may well see Hurricane Alpha, Beta, Gamma or Delta before the season ends at the end of November.

For more infomation click see the US National Hurricane Centre website.

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