Hurricane "Idalia" made landfall on the west coast of Florida this Wednesday as a devastating Category 3 hurricane, threatening with storm surges and heavy rainfall.

 

According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, the event is considered "unprecedented" as it is the first major hurricane to hit the Big Bend area, a sparsely populated region in the northwest part of the state.

 

Category 3 on the hurricane scale signifies a very powerful system. As of 7:00 AM on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) placed Idalia 90 kilometers west of Cedar Key and 105 kilometers south of Tallahassee, moving northward at 30 km/h.

 

On Cedar Key Island, local authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders. "One word: leave. It's not up for debate," said island commissioner Sue Colson.

 

Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated the message and urged residents to seek shelter in sturdy structures on higher ground.

 

Before reaching Florida, "Idalia" brought heavy rains to Cuba, particularly in the Pinar del Río province, affecting tobacco production and leaving many without electricity.

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that this year's hurricane season could be much more intense than anticipated, partly due to the extremely warm ocean temperatures.