Wilma heads for landfall in Florida

Florida: Hurricane Wilma has been upgraded to a category three storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale heading toward the southwestern coast of Florida.

"It has sustained winds of 185 kmph and qualifies for category three," the US National Hurricane Center forecaster Jamie Rhome said.

The center said it did not expect further significant changes in the strength of Wilma until it makes landfall in Florida on Monday.

At 1500 hours (2030 GMT), the eye of the storm was located 275 kilometers southwest of Naples and barreling toward the US coast at 30 kmph.

A storm surge up to 2.5 meters above normal was forecast for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay.

Residents have been urged to evacuate the coastal area immediately and find a reliable shelter.

One of the world's top beach destinations lay gutted on Sunday after Wilma blew out hundreds of hotel windows, tore through boutiques and left the Caribbean resort of Cancun under water.