ORLANDO, Fla. -- The latest computer models show Hurricane Wilma making landfall in South Florida, near Fort Myers, Fla., this weekend, bringing tropical storm-force winds to Central Florida, according to Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry.

Wilma's winds jumped 65 mph during a four-hour stretch early Wednesday, strengthening the storm into a potentially catastrophic hurricane with top sustained winds of 175 mph.

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In terms of pressure, Hurricane Wilma became the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the history of Atlantic storms with a 884 millibar reading, beating Hurricane Gilbert's reading in 1988.

"That is the lowest pressure reading ever recorded in the Atlantic and it is coming from Wilma in the Caribbean," Mowry said. "The real scary aspect about this graphic is that three of the top six strongest hurricanes happened this year. The atmosphere is just so ripe for the development of these massive hurricanes this year."

Most models agree that the storm will weaken before it strikes South Florida.

"The forecast track has not changed a lot since yesterday," Mowry said. "It has jogged west and until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it will likely remain a Category 5 or 4 storm."

Wilma is expected to lose some of its intensity as it makes a turn east toward Florida.

"We are projecting a Category 2 landfall in South Florida Saturday or into the morning hours Sunday," Mowry said. "This is going to be a quick moving storm when it moves over Florida. We are only talking about a six-to 12-hour time frame."

There is still a chance the storm could miss hitting Florida. One option that the models are not showing is that the storm could head into the Yucatan Peninsula and fall apart, Mowry said.

"I give that only a 10 percent chance of happening but it is a scenario that could play out in the next 24 hours," Mowry said.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Wilma was still in the western Caribbean, more than 500 miles south of Key West and heading toward the west-northwest at 7 mph.

Central Florida Forecast

If Wilma continues on its current path, parts of Central Florida can expect heavy rain and strong wind gusts over the weekend.

"The models are still indicating a South Florida landfall, which is better for us in Central Florida but obviously bad for the folks in South Florida," Mowry said.

Tropical storm-force winds and higher are possible in parts of Central Florida, too.

"The track is still very uncertain with this storm so keep up to date on the forecast this week," Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry said.

Florida Prepares

Hardware stores that sent supplies to areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita restocked their shelves for anxious Floridians waiting to see if a monster Hurricane Wilma would turn toward the peninsula, which forecasters said could happen by the weekend.

Its pressure readings Wednesday morning dropped to 884 millibars -- which, if verified, would be the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters said Wilma was the strongest hurricane of the season so far, and stronger than a devastating unnamed hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935.

Wilma's potential path could threaten coastal areas in southwestern Florida such as Punta Gorda that were hit by Hurricane Charley -- a Category 4 storm that was the first of six hurricanes to hit Florida since last year. Charley struck on Aug. 13, 2004.

The hurricanes that have hit Florida caused damage estimated at more than $20 billion and killing nearly 150 people.

In Punta Gorda, some homes and businesses remain boarded up from Charley. More than 6,800 federal trailers and mobile homes remain scattered around the state as temporary housing from the six storms, with 934 in Charlotte County alone.

Gov. Jeb Bush said Floridians must be thinking, "Why us? ... It's just something we're going to have to live with and prepare for."

The state routinely replenishes emergency supplies of water, food and ice at staging points across Florida, so no additional action is needed, emergency management spokesman Mike Stone said.

Florida supermarkets and home repair chains also stocked extra food, ice and other supplies ahead of an expected onslaught in stores. Home Depot Inc. stores in Florida sent products to areas in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi wrecked by Katrina and Rita, but they have been restocked, said Don Harrison, spokesman for the world's largest home improvement chain.

Andrea Yerger was buying material Tuesday to fix and protect her Port Charlotte house, which had to be gutted because of Charley's extensive damage.

"People would have to be foolish not to be watching it seriously," said Yerger, 48.

Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center in Miami show Wilma could hit western Cuba or the Yucatan Peninsula before heading into the Gulf of Mexico by Friday.

"We do not know how long it will maintain this Category 5 state. Right now Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras are getting heavy rain bands from this storm," Wallace said.

Current forecasts do not show Wilma making landfall in any of those countries, she said. But the computer models did show Wilma taking a sharp turn toward Florida over the weekend.

Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi appeared out of Wilma's path, sparing them more devastation.

Max Mayfield, director of the hurricane center, cautioned southern Florida residents of a dangerous storm surge should Wilma hit the peninsula.

To avoid potential flooding from Lake Okeechobee, water managers began emptying Palm Beach County canals on Tuesday. But officials said previous hurricane preparations and dry weather in the past two weeks has left ample room for additional waters in the lake.

The Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba and Mexico were under a hurricane watch, meaning those conditions could be felt within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning was posted for the Caymans and for the coast of Honduras. Four to 10 inches of rain was expected in the Caymans, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula, with up to 25 inches possible in some areas, forecasters said.

Wilma became this season's 12th hurricane on Tuesday, tying the record for most hurricanes in an Atlantic hurricane season since record-keeping began in 1851. It is also the 21st named storm, tying the record set in 1933.

The six-month hurricane season ends Nov. 30. Wilma is the last on the 21-name list for storms this year. For the first time, letters from the Greek alphabet, starting with Alpha, would be used to name any other storms that form.

So far this year, the Atlantic has had the equivalent of two normal hurricane seasons. There are 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes in the average season.

Tourists Told To Leave

Authorities in Florida aren't waiting any longer.

Monroe County officials are ordering visitors out of the Florida Keys. They have to start leaving at mid-day Wednesday.

Hurricane Wilma is forecast to hit the lower part of the state later this week. Wilma Wednesday morning set a couple of hurricane records by strengthening faster than any previously recorded storm, and by hitting a record low in barometric pressure for an Atlantic storm.

Watch Local 6 meteorologist Tom Sorrells, Larry Mowry and Michele Cimino for your latest forecast.