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Hurricane Wilma charged toward southwest Florida early Monday as a Category 3 storm, packing wind gusts of 125 mph (200 kph), spawning tornadoes and churning up walls of seawater that could make thousands of residents regret they defied evacuation orders.

Wilma was expected to bring a 17-foot (5-meter) storm surge when it makes landfall before dawn in the state's southwest corner, likely near Naples and Marco Island, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield said.

"This is a very dangerous hurricane," said Mayfield. "People need to stay hunkered down."

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900MT), Wilma was a powerful Category 3 centered about 55 miles (88 kilometers) southwest of Naples and moving northeast at about 20 mph (32 kph) with no signs of weakening.

Hurricane-force wind of at least 74 mph (120 kph) extended up to 90 miles (145 kilometers) from the center and wind blowing at tropical storm-force reached outward up to 230 miles (370 kilometers), the hurricane center said.

More than 22,600 people were in shelters across the state. But in the low-lying Florida Keys, not even 10 percent of the Keys' 78,000 residents evacuated, Sheriff Richard Roth said.

That could prove to be a mistake: While Wilma was not expected to make landfall over the Keys, the storm could bring a surge of 8 feet (2.5 meters) to sections of the low-lying island chain.

"They're going to be in deep trouble," warned Billy Wagner, the senior Monroe County emergency management director. Key West was already experiencing minor street flooding early Monday and a wind gust of 76 mph (122 kph) was measured there. Power outages were reported in both the Keys and along the southwest side of the state.