Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves toward Florida, where it is expected to make landfall with powerful winds and a life-threatening storm surge
[Breaking news update, published at 5:02 a.m. ET]
Idalia has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph and is expected to further intensify into a dangerous Category 3 storm before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.