Storm Idalia to intensify into major hurricane ahead of Florida landfall

Tropical Storm Idalia makes its way to Cuba and Florida's west coast in a composite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-East weather satellite August 28, 2023. NOAA/Handout REUTERS

GUANIMAR, Cuba (Reuters) -Tropical Storm Idalia lashed western Cuba and was expected to strengthen into a major hurricane on Monday as it crawled toward Florida's Gulf Coast, where officials ordered evacuations and urged residents to prepare for an expected Wednesday landfall.

Idalia was churning about 80 miles (130 km) off the western tip of Cuba as it barreled north, packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (112 kph), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.