Saudi consulate cautions citizens in Florida as Idalia strengthens to a hurricane

Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened as it neared Cuba and the abnormally hot waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, with forecasters predicting it could become a major hurricane before roaring ashore in Florida this week. (AFP)

RIYADH: The Saudi Consulate in Houston, Texas, has warned Saudi citizens living in or visiting Florida to remain alert as Tropical Storm Idalia became a hurricane on Tuesday, intensifying on a path toward Florida’s Gulf coast.

The consulate urged citizens to follow the instructions issued by the local authorities. 

In a tweet, the embassy urged Saudis to contact it in case of emergency via the following numbers:  ‏ ‏281-917-8305, 281-889-0570

Idalia became a hurricane on Tuesday as it intensified on a path toward Florida’s Gulf coast, with the National Hurricane Center warning of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds in Florida in the next two days. 

Idalia would be the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season and a big blow to the state, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost a year ago.

(with AP)