THE WAAAAAAAITING IS THE HARDEST PART...

While Hurricane Wilma seems to be strengthening once again and could become a Catagory 5 storm again tonight, either she is slowing or the forecast tracks are looking for her to creep along, making the Tom Petty lyric quite appropriate.

No real change in the forecasts as it applies to Florida, except that Wilma will be weaker than earlier expected by the time she makes it here. But people are not taking any chances.

Listening to the radio this afternoon, there were reports of traffic jams 20-25 miles long along I-75 in Sarasota and Lee counties as people were heading north. Also, a number of prep and college sports and other extracurricular events scheduled for the weekend were either moved up or postponed/cancelled throughout Central and South Florida

Here are other developments today, from the AP via the Lakeland Ledger:

--- Schools in Monroe County were closed until further notice.

--- Classes (will be) canceled at Broward County schools (at noon) Friday. Broward district athletic events and other activities planned through the weekend were postponed.

--- A mandatory evacuation was in effect in Monroe County for nonresidents and visitors, and a voluntary evacuation was in effect for all residents of the Florida Keys.

--- A hurricane shelter at Florida International University in Miami was open for evacuating Keys residents and visitors.

--- Drawbridges at Snake Creek and Jewfish Creek in Monroe County were open on the hour and half hour Thursday, but the drawbridges were expected to be locked down if a mandatory evacuation of residents was declared, possibly by noon Friday, officials said.

--- Government offices in Monroe County closed Thursday.

--- More than 200 million gallons of fuel were available in Florida ports, assuring ample supplies, Gov. Jeb Bush said. "You don't have to hoard."

--- Florida had 2,400 National Guard troops on alert and the state was prepared to mobilize up to 7,500 troops if needed, Bush said. Also, 18 helicopters from other states were on standby and will be moved Friday to Cecil Field near Jacksonville, if necessary.

--- Ten state parks in South Florida, mainly in the Keys, were closed until further notice.

--- Suspected price gouging for supplies of food, water, ice, gasoline, lumber and hotel rooms can be reported to the Attorney General's hot line at 1-866-966-7226, officials said. State law forbids extreme increases in the price of goods needed during a declared emergency.