Hurricane Wilma is accelerating toward southern Florida, where about 150,000 people fled inland ahead of the storm that was bringing winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and rain that could cause widespread flooding.
Wilma, a Category 3 storm, was centered 120 miles (200 km) west of Key West and headed northeast at 18 mph, based on an 11 p.m. advisory last night from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds extend 85 miles from its eye.
The hurricane may land somewhere between Naples and Key West, probably early morning, said a meteorologist at the Miami-based center. Wilma may hover over Florida for as long as eight hours.
The center forecast a “gradual” increase in Wilma’s forward speed. A hurricane warning, meaning such conditions are expected within 24 hours, was in effect for most of southern Florida, including the Keys, southward from Longboat Key along its west coast and southward from Titusville on the east coast.
Wilma may weaken to a Category 2 storm, which have winds of 96 to 110 mph according to the five-step Safir-Simpson scale, by the time the hurricane crosses Florida’s east coast. Earlier yesterday, Wilma traveled at 8 mph and had an intensity of Category 2.
Meanwhile, about 100 miles north of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas, Tropical Depression Alpha was moving with winds of 21 miles per hour, according to an 11 p.m. National Hurricane Center advisory. Alpha is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain.
Wilma is the 12th hurricane of the June 1 to Nov. 30 Atlantic season, equaling a record from 1969. Alpha is the 22nd named storm of the year, breaking a record set in 1933.
