Hurricane Wilma charged toward south-west Florida early today as a Category 3 storm, packing wind gusts of 120 mph, spawning tornadoes and churning up walls of seawater that could make thousands of residents regret they defied evacuation orders.

Rain pounded Key West early today as Hurricane Wilma accelerated towards storm-weary Florida, threatening residents with 115mph winds, tornadoes and a surge of seawater that could flood the Keys and the state’s south-west coast.

HURRICANE WILMA was headed toward Florida late last night and expected to pick up speed “like a rocket”, as thousands of residents had been ordered to evacuate.

Streets, bars, hotels and shops in the normally bustling island resort town of Key West were mostly empty today as officials said they were “cautiously optimistic” Hurricane Ivan might spare the island chain its worst punishment.

Many businesses were shuttered and streets were largely deserted as residents fled from this normally bustling island resort town of Key West amid concern that Hurricane Ivan was heading for Florida.