1 of 1 Satellite image shows the advance of Storm Idalia on its path towards the state of Florida in the United States Photo: NOAA via AP Satellite image shows the advance of Storm Idalia on its path towards the state of Florida in the United States Photo: NOAA via AP
Hurricane Idalia, expected to hit cities in Florida (USA) this Wednesday (30), has gained strength and reached Category 4 intensity. In this area, storms are considered catastrophic and extremely dangerous.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), winds that reached up to 177 km/h in Category 2 could reach 209 km/h in Category 4. The scale goes up to 5.
According to the NHC, any storm that exceeds Category 3 is already considered a major hurricane. Another point to note is that the hurricane can cause major flooding.
On Tuesday (29), the Florida government advised residents of the western region of the state to leave their homes. At least 14 million people are on alert.
“This will be a powerful hurricane and will undoubtedly impact the state of Florida in many different ways. Therefore, please follow the guidelines of local authorities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
In Cuba, thousands of people had to leave their homes in the west of the country on Monday (28) because of Idalia.
Cuban Civil Defense has activated the cyclone alert phase for the provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa and Isla de la Juventud in the west of the country, and the neighboring province of Mayabeque experienced intermittent rainfall. Havana is on alert.
According to the local press, rail traffic from Pinar del Río was suspended on Sunday and passenger transport by sea on the Isla de la Juventud was suspended.
Idalia emerged on Sunday (27) in the Caribbean, near southeastern Mexico.
The emergence of the storm changed the climate in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where Cancún is located, with heavy rains that ruined the plans of tourists on the last weekend of summer holidays (Northern Hemisphere, winter in Brazil).
Scientists warn that storms will become more intense as the planet warms due to climate change.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian, which reached Cuba as a Category 3 phenomenon, caused at least two deaths before moving on to Florida, where it reached Category 5 and caused 150 deaths.