Florida braces for Hurricane Idalia as storm builds over warm Gulf waters

The mayor of Cedar Key, Florida, estimates that 100 residents on the small barrier island have chosen to shelter in place as Hurricane Idalia approaches [Marco Bello/Reuters]

It is a quiet part of the Florida coast, known for sport fishing, clam farming and wooden houses on stilts, perched right on the water.

But the small island of Cedar Key, Florida, is among the coastal communities expected to face the brunt of Hurricane Idalia, which strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Tuesday afternoon.