Tropical Storm Idalia Intensifies Off Cuba, Heads toward Florida

Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened on Monday as it moved toward the western tip of Cuba. It then turned its focus to Florida's Gulf coast, where forecasters warned of "life-threatening" tide increases and storm surges.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated during a news conference that there would be evacuations and that locals should be prepared for the storm, which is anticipated to hit Florida on Wednesday as a hurricane.

"Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds becoming increasingly likely for portions of Florida," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an 8 pm (0000 GMT) update.

US President Joe Biden spoke with DeSantis earlier Monday and approved an emergency declaration for the state, promising it would have his full support, a White House spokesman said.

Storm surge and hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Florida's Gulf coast as heated Gulf of Mexico waters turbocharge the storm, the NHC said.

It predicted the highest storm surges north of Tampa Bay, a metropolitan region with some 3.2 million residents, saying that "inundation of between eight to 12 feet above ground level is expected."

Flash flooding may hit other parts of Florida, including the state's panhandle region, and southern Georgia into Wednesday, the NHC said.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is already preparing for the storm's impact, including by deploying some of its staff, according to the White House.

Cuban authorities declared a hurricane alert for the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa as well as Isla de la Juventud, an island.

In Cuba, thousands of people evacuated or fled ahead of the storm, authorities and state media said.

After passing Cuba Idalia will move out over the Gulf, which scientists say is experiencing a "marine heat wave" -- energizing Idalia's winds as it races towards Florida.

The storm "will be moving over waters near 31C (88 degrees Fahrenheit)," the NHC said.

Heat is one factor that powers hurricanes and "rapid intensification is becoming increasingly likely before landfall... Idalia should keep strengthening up to landfall" as a major hurricane, it warned.

Major hurricanes are usually a Category 3 and up on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale -- storms that the NHC says can cause "devastating" and "catastrophic" damage.

Cuban state media said some 8,000 people have left their homes to seek shelter with family or friends in Pinar del Rio, the same province walloped last September by Hurricane Ian, which killed at least two people and left millions without electricity.

Idalia was already buffeting parts of southeastern Mexico with wind and rain earlier in the day Monday.

In the state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun and other coastal tourist resorts, Idalia dumped rain and put a damper on one of the last weekends of summer vacation.

In certain areas of Mexico's eastern Yucatan, there will likely be a lot of rain.

Storms are getting stronger as the world warms up owing to climate change, according to scientists.

Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida in 2022 and left behind around 150 fatalities and significant property damage.

It destroyed entire communities and caused damage totaling more than $100 billion, making it by far the worst weather disaster the world has ever experienced.