MIAMI – Florida and Cuba are bracing for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to intensify into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane, forecasters say.
Idalia is expected to gain hurricane force before making landfall in Big Bend, Florida, on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Another storm, Franklin, could bring life-threatening storm surges to the US East Coast and Bermuda.
It comes as the Atlantic hurricane season nears its peak.
Franklin is the first major hurricane of the season, which runs from June to November. It is currently a Category 4 storm, packing 230km/h winds.
Idalia could bring “life-threatening” storm surges and “hurricane force winds and scattered flash and urban flooding” to parts of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle as soon as Tuesday, according to the NHC.
The storm is expected to drench western Cuba with 4-7in of rain and bring dangerous storm surges. A hurricane warning is in effect for the city of Pinar del Río in Cuba.
Idalia was 30km west of Cuba on Monday evening. It has forced thousands of Cubans to evacuate towns on the island’s west coast. (BBC)
