Hurricane Idalia en route to Florida after whipping Cuba with strong winds, flooding

Tropical storm Idalia is nearing hurricane strength and is forecast to become a hurricane on Monday as it tracks toward the Gulf Coast of Florida, on a path that is expected to impact a wide central chunk of the state, including cities like Tampa and Orlando.

The storm has already lashed western Cuba, with heavy rains and high winds, though the impact of the storm has yet to be assessed.

Thousands of people had to be evacuated in the country.

Idalia was barreling about 130 kilometers off the western tip of Cuba as of Monday and was packing maximum sustained winds of 112 kilometers per hour as it moved north, the National Hurricane Center said.

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