Idalia strengthens and is predicted to hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane

Businesses and homes at Cedar Key ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia (Rebecca Blackwell, AP)

Peoples living in vulnerable coastal areas in Florida were ordered to pack up and leave as Hurricane Idalia gained steam on Tuesday and threatened to unleash life-threatening storm surges and rainfall.

Idalia pummelled Cuba with heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday, leaving the tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio underwater and many of its residents without power.