ORLANDO, Fla. -- The latest forecasted track of Hurricane Rita continues to push the storm west, hitting Key West and then emerging back into the Gulf of Mexico on a path toward Texas, according to Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry.

The main steering flow for the storm is an area of high pressure over the state of Florida that is directing Rita west and eventually will curve it to the north when it hits the Gulf of Mexico

"This is our friend, this area of high pressure," Mowry said. "This area of high pressure is really benefiting us and keeping Rita away from Central Florida."

Rita could be a Category 2 hurricane as it passes through the Keys in the next 24 hours.

"Boy, this is starting to look very impressive in southern Florida with the circular nature of the storm," Mowry said. "You can see a flare-up of convection around the center of circulation today. A big flare-up indicates we are seeing some strengthening of the system."

At 11 a.m., the center of Rita was located near latitude 23.8 north, longitude 81.0 west or about 75 miles east-southeast of Key West, Fla. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts.

The storm had top sustained winds of 85 mph Tuesday, and it was expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of at least 74 mph, as it approached the Keys.

Rita is expected to gather strength in Gulf and possibly reach Category 3 status before making landfall near Houston Saturday morning.

What To Expect In Central Fla.

Brevard County will be where the greatest effects will be felt in Central Florida, according to Mowry.

"We are starting to see a few showers moving into southern Brevard County today," Mowry said. "If you live in Palm Bay and Melbourne, you've seen some showers."

Heavy rain is possible in parts of Central Florida, especially in areas to the south of Orange County.

Tropical storm wind gusts are likely in the storm's rain bands, if they reach Central Florida.

"Seas are really going to rock as early as Tuesday night," Local 6 meteorologist Tom Sorrells said. "It will be worse south of Cocoa."

Warnings

At 5 a.m., the government of the Bahamas discontinued all warnings for the central Bahamas, and downgraded the hurricane warning for Andros Island to a tropical storm warning.

A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Euthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence.

Hurricane warnings were posted for the Keys and Miami-Dade County, and the storm's eye was expected to pass between the islands and Cuba on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The hurricane warning is extended along the Florida west coast from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee.

Voluntary evacuation orders were posted for about 134,000 Miami-Dade residents who live in coastal areas such as Miami Beach and Key Biscayne. 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 to north of Golden Beach.

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

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 7 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 4 feet is possible along the extreme southeastern Florida coast, and in the northwestern Bahamas.

Thousands Flee Keys

Thousands of residents fled the Florida Keys as Tropical Storm Rita barreled toward land, poised to grow into a hurricane with a potential 9-foot storm surge and sparking fears it could eventually ravage the hobbled Gulf Coast.

"I've lived in Florida all my life," said James Swindell, 37, who shopped along a cleared-out Miami Beach on Monday. "You always have to be worried about a storm, because they are too unpredictable and they can shift on you at the last minute. Nobody knows what they are going to do."

"We're just trying to get enough gas to get home," said Andres Sweeting, 29, of Miami, as he stopped at a Coconut Grove gas station with his family. Long lines of customers had depleted two of the station's four gasoline tanks.

In the Bahamas, fishermen dragged their boats to dry land and some people shuttered their windows -- a sign that that normally laid-back islanders were concerned about Rita.

"After what happened to New Orleans and the Gulf area, nobody is taking this storm lightly," said Ray Mackie, the owner of Tranquility Hill fishing lodge on Andros.

Oil prices surged on the possibility that oil and gas production would be interrupted once again.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Hurricane Philippe was far out at sea and posed no immediate threat to land.

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.