Tropical Storm Idalia strengthens off Cuba, barrels toward Florida

Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened as it passed by the western tip of Cuba on Monday, taking aim at the Gulf coast of Florida as forecasters predicted it could become a hurricane "at any time."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the storm -- likely to make landfall there as a major hurricane by Wednesday -- could have major impacts along the Gulf of Mexico, telling a news conference that evacuations would take place and residents should prepare.

"The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an 11 pm (0300 GMT) update.

"There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast," it said in a statement on social media.

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.

Various NHC warnings have been put in place in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as heated Gulf of Mexico waters turbocharge the storm.

The NHC also expected hurricane and tropical storm conditions in parts of western Cuba through Tuesday morning.

It predicted the highest storm surges north of Tampa Bay, a metropolitan region with about 3.2 million residents, saying that "inundation of between eight to 12 feet above ground level is expected."

Flash and urban flooding may hit other parts of Florida, including the state's panhandle region, and southern Georgia into Wednesday, the NHC said. Flooding could reach parts of South Carolina Wednesday into Thursday.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency ...