Mayfield earlier in the day warned the storm could result in many deaths and a tremendous storm surge where it eventually makes landfall.

["Beryl Bingham" <JermaineHestere@...>]

"This is one of the more perplexing storms we've had to deal with this year," Max Mayfield said. "We're just going to have to watch it." (Watch Mayfield's warning about Wilma -- 6:33)Wilma was the third storm to reach Category 5 this year -- the others were Katrina and Rita -- and has tied records as the 12th hurricane and the 21st named storm in the Atlantic season. While computer projections diverged over the course of the day, the prevailing prediction suggested Wilma could track west of Cuba and close to the tourist areas on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula by Friday afternoon. Just 90 minutes later, the center reported Wilma had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and higher gusts.Early Wednesday, the dozen or so computer models used by meteorologists had been in agreement, but by late in the afternoon they were predicting wildly divergent tracks, Mayfield said.It is then expected to curve eastward and head toward southwestern Florida.

"It's not looking good. A Category 5 is not going to be a toy to play with," longtime resident Randy Hart told CNN affiliate WZVN while buying supplies at a store in Fort Myers on the southwest coast.Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard."It's not looking good. A Category 5 is not going to be a toy to play with," longtime resident Randy Hart told CNN affiliate WZVN while buying supplies at a store in Fort Myers on the southwest coast.Cuban authorities have already evacuated residents in the eastern part of the country after the outer bands of Wilma dumped heavy rain as it passed south of the island. More evacuations were expected in the western provinces. Pentagon officials said Wednesday the Navy has placed three ships on standby if Wilma makes landfall in the United States. They said the storm was still too far out to evacuate bases.In Florida, a state that endured four hurricanes last year, some residents stocked up on supplies.

Early Wednesday, the dozen or so computer models used by meteorologists had been in agreement, but by late in the afternoon they were predicting wildly divergent tracks, Mayfield said.Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard.Early Wednesday, the dozen or so computer models used by meteorologists had been in agreement, but by late in the afternoon they were predicting wildly divergent tracks, Mayfield said."This is a much lower confidence than we normally have" in hurricane forecasts, he said.Path uncertainAs a tropical depression, Wilma already had been blamed for one death in Jamaica on Sunday, the AP reported.

Cuban hurricane watchEarly Wednesday, the dozen or so computer models used by meteorologists had been in agreement, but by late in the afternoon they were predicting wildly divergent tracks, Mayfield said."The good news here is this does seem to buy us a little more time," he said, warning that "even a Category 3 hurricane can cause considerable damage, and we don't want to let our guard down at all."Mayfield said the storm is expected to slow in the Gulf, possibly weakening to Category 3 as it continues to fluctuate in strength. Mayfield said the storm is expected to slow in the Gulf, possibly weakening to Category 3 as it continues to fluctuate in strength. The storm was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane late Wednesday, but forecasters said it could regain strength and return to Category 5 status on Thursday.

Pentagon officials said Wednesday the Navy has placed three ships on standby if Wilma makes landfall in the United States. They said the storm was still too far out to evacuate bases.The storm was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane late Wednesday, but forecasters said it could regain strength and return to Category 5 status on Thursday.Hurricane-force winds extended outward about 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the eye.Early Wednesday, the dozen or so computer models used by meteorologists had been in agreement, but by late in the afternoon they were predicting wildly divergent tracks, Mayfield said.Wilma strengthened earlier Wednesday within a matter of a few hours -- at 1 a.m. ET, the hurricane center reported the storm had 150 mph winds, taking it from a Category 2 to a Category 4.A stretch of the Honduran coast is under a tropical storm warning from the Nicaraguan border to Cabo Camaron -- as is Belize from the Mexican border to Belize City.

In Florida, a state that endured four hurricanes last year, some residents stocked up on supplies. Path uncertainCuban hurricane watchCuban authorities have already evacuated residents in the eastern part of the country after the outer bands of Wilma dumped heavy rain as it passed south of the island. More evacuations were expected in the western provinces. As a tropical depression, Wilma already had been blamed for one death in Jamaica on Sunday, the AP reported. Mayfield earlier in the day warned the storm could result in many deaths and a tremendous storm surge where it eventually makes landfall.

Cuban authorities have already evacuated residents in the eastern part of the country after the outer bands of Wilma dumped heavy rain as it passed south of the island. More evacuations were expected in the western provinces. Authorities in the Florida Keys said they would order a mandatory evacuation for all residents in effect for the Lower Keys by noon Thursday and the rest of Monroe County by 6 p.m.In Florida, a state that endured four hurricanes last year, some residents stocked up on supplies. Authorities in the Florida Keys said they would order a mandatory evacuation for all residents in effect for the Lower Keys by noon Thursday and the rest of Monroe County by 6 p.m.A stretch of the Honduran coast is under a tropical storm warning from the Nicaraguan border to Cabo Camaron -- as is Belize from the Mexican border to Belize City. Floridians stock up

"We had well over a thousand lives lost in [Hurricane] Katrina," he said. "If Wilma comes into the Florida coast as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, that potential for large loss of life is with us here with this hurricane."Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard.Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard."If this one makes landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, there will be a tremendous storm surge," Mayfield said.Cuban hurricane watchCuban hurricane watch

Mayfield earlier in the day warned the storm could result in many deaths and a tremendous storm surge where it eventually makes landfall.A hurricane warning was in effect from San Felipe to Punta Allen on the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cozumel, the hurricane center said. County officials Wednesday ordered tourists to leave beginning at noon, closed state parks and lifted the toll on the bridge that connects the Keys with mainland Florida.Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard.Despite increasing uncertainty in the storm's predicted path, the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said people who might be in Wilma's path should not let down their guard."This is one of the more perplexing storms we've had to deal with this year," Max Mayfield said. "We're just going to have to watch it." (Watch Mayfield's warning about Wilma -- 6:33)