Hurricane Idalia now a Category 4 storm as it barrels toward Florida

BBC LIVE UPDATES Summary

1. Idalia is upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane as it nears Florida, meaning likely winds of 130mph (209k/ph) and “catastrophic damage will occur”
2. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is currently giving a briefing on the storm – you can watch by pressing play above
3. He says six foot (1.8m) storm surges are expected, and he emphasises “that’s life threatening”, adding: “Don’t go outside in the midst of this”
4. 30,000 personnel are ready to help restore power in the wake of the storm, DeSantis says, as he warns local residents to be careful with downed power lines
5. The storm surge is expected to rise “dramatically” over the next few hours, boosted by high tide
6. Idalia is forecast to make landfall at the state’s northern panhandle on Wednesday morning local time
7. Twenty-eight of Florida’s 67 counties are under some form of evacuation order, mostly along the state’s upper Gulf Coast