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.

Atlantic storm Ophelia regained hurricane strength, on a course expected to swing towards the Atlantic Coast, as forecasters urged residents from northern Florida to the Carolinas keep close watch on its path over the next few days.