Sawt Falasteen - Tropical Storm Idalia strengthens near Cuba, heads to Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the storm could have major impact along the Gulf coast, telling a news conference that evacuations would take place and residents should get ready for Idalia.

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.

Idalia was set to reach hurricane status as it nears Cuba on Monday, where a hurricane warning was already in place for western Pinar del Rio province, the US National Hurricane Center said.

In Cuba, thousands of people evacuated or fled ahead of the storm bound for Pinar del Rio, authorities and state media said.

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

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

Heat is one factor that energizes hurricanes and "rapid intensification is becoming increasingly likely before landfall... Idalia should keep strengthening up to landfall along the Gulf coast of Florida" as a major hurricane on Wednesday, 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.

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

Rail travel from Pinar del Rio and maritime crossings to the Isla de la Juventud were interrupted, said state media.

- Emergency staff -

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

Storm surge and hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Florida's coast and scattered flash flooding can be expected, the NHC said. It was not yet clear where on the coast it was expected to make landfall.

Idalia was already buffeting parts of southeastern Mexico with wind and rain 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.

Heavy rainfall is expected across parts of the eastern Yucatan in Mexico and western Cuba.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer due to climate change.

In 2022, Florida was hit by the powerful Hurricane Ian, which killed almost 150 people and caused extensive damage.

It wiped out entire neighborhoods, causing more than $100 billion worth of damage -- by far the world's most expensive weather disaster of the year.

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C.AbuSway--SF-PST