ORLANDO, Fla. -- The latest projected path of movement for Hurricane Wilma shows the storm accelerating when it hits the Gulf of Mexico and making landfall in South Florida as a Category 2 or 3 storm, according to Local 6 meteorologist Tom Sorrells.

Tropical Storm Wilma strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday, tying the record for the most hurricanes to form in an Atlantic season.

The current intensification and favorable environment should bring Wilma to Category 4 status in the next 24 hours and it would not be a surprise to see it reach Category 5 before it bottoms out, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"It should be on shore by about 8 p.m. Saturday night as at least a Category 2 storm," Sorrells said.

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A computer model that earlier showed the storm moving into Central Florida adjusted south Tuesday night.

"It may jog a little farther south and that would be the best scenario for us, but not for the folks in South Florida," Sorrells said.

A cold front will push the system to the east later this week.

"If the cold front lingers just the slightest bit, things could really get ugly in Central Florida," Sorrells said.

The storm is then expected to exit Florida around West Palm Beach Sunday.

"It is going to be a weird situation this weekend," Sorrells said.

At 11 p.m., Wilma was centered about 185 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and 540 miles south of Key West. It was moving west-northwest at about 8 mph with winds reaching 110 mph.

Floridians Prepare For Storm

Some Floridians started preparing for yet another hurricane Tuesday by buying water, canned food and other supplies, but most just kept a cautious lookout as record-tying Wilma wasn't expected to near the state until the weekend.

Wilma was expected to strengthen on a path that could threaten coastal areas in southwestern Florida like Punta Gorda that were hit by Hurricane Charley -- a Category 4 storm that was the first of the six hurricanes. It struck on Aug. 13, 2004.

"People have learned their lesson and know better how to prepare. We're not waiting till the last minute anymore," said Andrea Yerger, 48, of Port Charlotte. She was buying material to fix and protect her house, which had to be gutted because of Charley's extensive damage.

Many Punta Gorda homes and businesses have been rebuilt in a construction boom, but some are still boarded up. 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.

Central Florida Forecast

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

Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph and higher are possible, 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.

Storm Makes History

Wilma became the Atlantic season's 12th hurricane Tuesday, the same number reached in 1969, the highest since record-keeping began in 1851. It is also the 21st named storm, tying the record set in 1933.

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

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 devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but they have been restocked, said Don Harrison, spokesman for the world's largest home improvement chain.

"I think since Katrina, everyone is more apprehensive about the situation as far as hurricanes go," said Pat Schmidt, a 74-year-old retiree from Port Charlotte who was buying gallon jugs of water and canned goods at a Publix supermarket.

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 Nicaragua, with up to 15 inches possible in some areas, forecasters said.

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

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. With six weeks left to go, more could form after Wilma.

"I hope people aren't too worried. It's not time to panic, it's time to prepare," said Sandra Mallory, 68, of Port Charlotte.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.