Hurricane Wilma is pounding the southern Florida peninsula after coming ashore as a Category 2 hurricane early this morning (Oct. 24). As of 9 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Wilma was about 45 miles southwest of West Palm Beach, Fla. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported in its latest Public Advisory that maximum sustained winds were near 110 mph, with higher gusts, and the Category 2 hurricane was moving toward the northeast at 25 mph, with an expected increase in forward speed in the next 24 hours. Meteorologists said “some continued weakening” is likely as the storm crosses southern Florida.

Later today, the center of Wilma is expected to emerge off the east coast of the southern Florida peninsula and head into the Atlantic.

“This is a large hurricane, and the strongest winds in the eyewall extend well away from the center,” meteorologists reported in the advisory. “Persons are advised not to venture outdoors during the relative calm of the eye because winds will soon increase quite rapidly.”

Hurricane warnings remained in effect for all of the Florida Keys, along the Florida west coast from Longboat Key southward, and along the Florida east coast from Titusville southward (including Lake Okeechobee)