Florida Storm Turns Into Hurricane

Wind gusts reached 80mph (130kmph) on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 51 counties as residents were braced for the dangerous storm.

Hermine is expected to make landfall on the northern Florida Gulf Coast early on Friday – the first hurricane to hit the state since 2005.

Tropical Storm Hermine has strengthened into a hurricane, threatening to bring a dangerous storm surge to Florida.