From October 18 , and over the next day , Wilma underwent explosive deepening over the open waters of the Caribbean ; in a 30-hour period , the system 's central atmospheric pressure dropped from 982 mbar ( 29.00 inHg ) to the record-low value of 882 mbar ( 26.05 inHg ) , while the winds increased to 185 mph ( 300 km\/h ) . However , convection gradually organized , and from October 18 through October 19 , Wilma underwent explosive deepening over the open waters of the Caribbean . In a 30 - hour period , the pressure dropped from 982 mbar to the record-low of 882 mbar , while the winds increased to 184 mph ( 296 km\/h ) .