Elsa weakened to a tropical storm early Wednesday but it still packs the potential for life-threatening storm surge, heavy winds, isolated tornadoes and heavy rains that could create flooding up and down the coast of Florida.
Elsa became a Category 1 Hurricane Tuesday but was downgraded Wednesday morning.
While the storm weakened, hurricane warnings remain in place for more than four million people.
Across three states, more than 12 million people are under a tropical storm warning.
The storm was southwest of Tampa early Wednesday morning, where residents were urged to stay indoors.
As the storm churns off the western coast of Florida with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, it is expected to be near the Pinellas Peninsula around 2 a.m. EST - the closest it will be to land before it makes landfall later in the morning.
The system is moving north at 14 mph on a collision course with Cedar Key in the Big Bend area, where it is expected to make landfall late Wednesday morning.
Source: CNN