ORLANDO, Fla. -- Computer models showing the predicted path of Hurricane Dennis continue to push the storm into the Gulf Coast, making landfall anywhere from Pensacola, Fla., to Mobile, Ala., according to Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry.

More than 1 million people from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana were under evacuation orders Saturday.

"This is a very dangerous storm and we hope that you will evacuate," Gov. Jeb Bush said to residents in the Panhandle.

Local 6's exclusive VIPIR forecast radar has Hurricane Dennis continuing a path toward the Florida Panhandle Sunday.

---

PROJECTED PATH: Dennis | NHC Map
MORE: 2005 Storm Forecast | 2005 Storm Names
INTERACTIVE: Hurricanes 101 | Tracker
NOTE: Check List | Be Prepared
EXCLUSIVE: Hurricane Guide -- Storm Status
ADVISORIES: English | Spanish
PHONE: Florida Emergency Information Line: (800) 342-3557

---

"A lot of people have been asking, 'Will this pull a (Hurricane) Charley on us and make a right turn?" Mowry said. "Right now, it appears that that is not going to happen. All of the models are pretty much in agreement putting the storm in the Panhandle or over near Mississippi. I really think this is going to stay on the forecast track and continue to the west and away from Central Florida."

The center eye of Hurricane Dennis was located about 90 miles west-southwest of Key West Saturday morning with outer bands already reaching parts of Polk County, Fla.

"We are already starting to see the clouds roll into Central Florida," Mowry said "Heavier rain bands are moving into southern Polk County and Tampa Bay. These will be lifting northward causing us some very heavy rain and the possibility of storms and isolated tornadoes."

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Central Florida until 4 p.m. Saturday.

"Dennis will primarily affect the western part of our viewing area with some very heavy rain," Mowry said. "We do expect to see heavy rain along the east coast and there is the potential for some isolated tornadoes."

Dennis is the earliest Category 4 storm to develop in the Caribbean and the strongest storm ever this early in the hurricane season, Local 6 News reported.

At 5 p.m., the center of Dennis was located near latitude 25.7 north, longitude 84.6 west.

This is about 320 miles south-southeast of Panama City, Fla. and about 670 miles southeast of Biloxi, Miss .

Dennis is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.

A NOAA reconnaissance plane indicated that winds are beginning to increase again and have reached 105 mph, with higher gusts.

Warnings Continue

A hurricane warning remained in effect for portions of the northeastern Gulf Coast from the Steinhatchee River westward to the mouth of the Pearl River.

A hurricane warning also remains in effect for the lower Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge westward to the Dry Tortugas. And, a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for the remainder of the Florida Keys, east of the Seven Mile Bridge to Ocean Reef and Florida Bay.

Also Saturday, a tropical storm warning is in effect along the Florida west coast from the Steinhatchee River southward and along the Florida east coast from Golden Beach southward.

Officials have issued a tropical storm warning for the southeastern Louisiana coast west of the mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Ponchartrain.

A hurricane or tropical storm warning means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions, respectively, are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

What To Expect

Showers and thunderstorms from Hurricane Dennis are expected to hit Central Florida as early as Saturday morning.

Saturday, Central Floridians can expect gusty winds reaching 20 to 30 mph to move into the area.

There will be rough seas and dangerous rip currents on both coasts of Florida. Seas are expected to reach 8 feet in Brevard and Volusia counties.

"We do expect to see showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend and maybe some isolated tornadoes tomorrow," Larry Mowry said.

Highs will be in the upper 80s Saturday and Sunday.

Dennis Forces Sat. Evacuations

Hurricane Dennis lashed the Florida Keys with squalls packing strong winds and sheets of rain early Saturday, knocking out power, toppling trees and damaging awnings as residents hunkered down and rode out the storm.

The storm also forced people from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana to pack up and evacuate as it churned along a path that could at least sideswipe areas still rebuilding from last year's four hurricanes.

The Category 2 hurricane with top winds of 105 mph lost strength as it passed over Cuba on Friday with 145 mph winds. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Dennis could strengthen again as it moved over open water on a path expected to at least brush past southwest Florida on its way to a landfall Sunday afternoon anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to southeast Louisiana.

Much of Key West was without power Saturday morning as the hurricane passed west of the island, producing stinging rain and wind gusts that buckled windows. Tree branches, plywood and other debris littered the streets, and awnings hung precariously from storefronts. No injuries were immediately reported.

"We're holding up," Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley said. "The biggest damage right now of course is the power being off."

The storm, which had been a Category 4 hurricane as it blew through the Caribbean, was blamed for at least 10 deaths in Cuba and 10 in Haiti. It was passing to the west of Key West and was forecast to bring up to 8 inches of rain and 6-foot storm surges Saturday morning. Weekley said rainfall in Key West was about 21/2 to 3 inches.

About a half-million people in coastal Alabama and tens of thousands more in the Keys and low-lying areas of the Florida Gulf Coast were told to evacuate.

Normally busy shops in Key West were covered with plywood and one liquor store had a sign that read: "Dennis Don't Be a Menace."

The Key West Fire Department made an exception to its rule of not responding to emergencies during a hurricane to free four women trapped in a house around 3 a.m. by a fallen tree, Capt. Michael Davila said.

Firefighters, in 40 mph winds, cut the tree and part of a wooden deck away from the building's only exit.

"If the benefit outweighs the risk, we'll go ahead and do it. At that time, it wasn't that severe of weather," Davila said.

The women were not injured and were dropped off at nearby neighbors' homes.

"They were safe until the tree fell," Davila said.

The city early Saturday felt sustained winds around 65 mph, with gusts up to 85 mph, said Matt Strahan, a meteorologist at the service's Key West office. Strahan said the winds had pushed a vintage DC-3 plane about 300 yards down the tarmac at the city's airport.

Many in Dennis' strike zone were aware that it was following nearly in the path of Ivan, which came ashore at the Florida-Alabama line, causing 29 deaths and $4 billion damage in the Panhandle alone.

Mitch Lamb had lived in a government-issued travel trailer while his home was being repaired and only recently moved back. About 9,300 other trailers were still in use by Floridians whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes.

As he packed up his belongings Friday, Lamb was ready to give up on his Gulf Breeze home after spending $70,000 out of his own pocket on repairs.

"I hope this house is gone when I get back because I do not want to go through it again," he said. "We'll just sell the waterfront property and take the loss."

Watch Local 6 Weather with Tom Sorrells, Michele Cimino and Larry Mowry for your forecast.