Florida takes on eighth storm in 15 months.

KEY WEST, Fla. — Hurricane Wilma crashed ashore early Monday as a strong Category 3 storm, battering southwestern Florida with 125-mph winds and pounding waves that threatened flooding in low-lying areas. Wilma made landfall at 6:30 a.m. EDT near Cape Romano (search), 22 miles south of Naples in Collier County, bringing with it a potential 19-foot storm surge, the National Hurricane Center (search) said. Hurricane-force wind of at least 74 mph extended 90 miles from the center and wind blowing at tropical storm-force reached outward 230 miles, the hurricane center said. • Click here to track Hurricane Wilma. 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. Thanks to foxnews for this story.