ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tropical Storm Rita continued to track west Monday and was expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it moveed toward South Florida, according to Local 6 meteorologist Michele Cimino.

"They do predict this storm to be a Category 1 as it moves off to the west and eventually to the Keys," Cimino said. "South Florida is in the cone of movement and we will have to watch how far north or south it tracks to determine how much of an impact it has on our forecast."

The storm is expected to remain on a sharp west track, but could bring rain to Central Florida if its movement changes.

"Our rain chances can go from 20 percent to 60 percent if Rita tracks just a bit north and brings bands of rain into Central Florida," Cimino said.

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At 11 a.m., the center of Rita was located near latitude 23.0 north, longitude 75.2 west or about 195 miles, 315 km, southeast of nassau and about 430 miles east-southeast of Key West, Florida. .

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected, and Rita could become a hurricane during the next 24 hours.

"Rita should be a hurricane, if not by our noon forecast, I would say by 5 p.m.," Cimino said.

Computer models show the system moving through the Keys and into the Gulf of Mexico on a path toward Brownsville, Texas later this week.

Warnings

A hurricane warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys from ocean reef to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay.

A hurricane warning is also in effect for the northwest Bahamas, excluding Grand Bahama and the Abacos.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch remain in effect from Deerfield Beach southward to Florida City and continuing westward to East Cape Sable.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, for the southeast and central Bahamas, and for Grand Bahama and the Abacos.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect from west of east Cape Sable to Chokoloskee, Fla.

Storm surge flooding of 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, are possible in the Florida Keys in areas of onshore flow.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet are possible along the extreme southeastern Florida coast, and in the northwestern Bahamas.

Thousands Flee Keys

Thousands of tourists jammed the highways Sunday after they were told to evacuate the lower Keys ahead of Tropical Storm Rita, which developed over the Bahamas and moved toward the vulnerable island chain.

"We're happy to get out of here before the storm comes," said Joan Taylor, 73, of Midland Park, N.J., who was planning to fly out of Key West on Monday.

Gov. Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida, which gives the state authority to oversee evacuations.

Despite the evacuation order, however, some hotels and restaurants in Key West remained open, and few businesses were boarded up early Monday.

Rita is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, the fourth-busiest since record-keeping began in 1851. In 1933, a record 21 tropical storms formed, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Four hurricanes struck Florida last year, killing dozens of people and causing $19 billion in insured losses in Florida. Hurricane Dennis brushed by the Keys in July, flooding some Key West streets, toppling trees and knocking out power, before slamming the Florida Panhandle.

Florida was also hit this year by Hurricane Katrina. Eleven people died there.

Farther out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Philippe formed late Sunday well east of the Lesser Antilles.

The hurricane season started June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

Watch Tom Sorrells, Larry Mowry and Michele Cimino for more on this story.