Hurricane Idalia: Florida hunkers down for 'unprecedented' storm

Florida's governor has warned residents in the path of Hurricane Idalia to heed evacuation warnings without delay as it approaches the US state.

Ron DeSantis said Idalia would hit the state's Gulf coast as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday morning.

Much of Florida, including the densely populated Tampa area, is forecast to be affected by severe weather.

Idalia is projected to hit an area that Mr DeSantis said has not seen such a major hurricane since the 1800s.