U.S.

A severe storm nicknamed Idalia has developed into a hurricane and is heading towards Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the United States. “Idalia is now a hurricane. It is expected to quickly intensify and develop into an extremely dangerous and major hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday,” the NHC wrote in an update Tuesday. Later on Tuesday, the NHC said the hurricane was just over 500 kilometres off the coast of Florida, blowing at 130 kilometres per hour. If the hurricane also makes landfall with that strength, it will be a Category 4 hurricane. Category 4 is the second highest and is used for hurricanes where catastrophic damage is expected. For example, many trees and electricity pylons will be toppled, and larger areas may lose power or become uninhabitable.
Latest: Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is urging citizens under evacuation orders to immediately leave the areas expected to be hit by Hurricane Idalia. “You’re not going to be able to survive it,” he said, referring to the 28 counties expected to be particularly hard hit by the hurricane. /ritzau/NYT/