After barreling through Florida over the weekend, Hurricane Irma was downgraded Monday to a tropical storm. Irma was still expected bring winds of up to 60 mph when it impacts South Carolina Monday afternoon.

Irma’s center was located about 70 miles east of Tallahassee, Florida Monday afternoon, making its way northward at about 15 to 20 mph, according to the Weather Channel. Forecasters warned that despite a dissipating eye and downgraded winds, impacts from the storm would still be felt far and wide as it made its way north.

The storm was set to bring wind and rain to both North and South Carolina as well as Georgia — with the highest winds hitting from around 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Forecasts warned of the possibility of flash flooding in northeast Georgia, the South Carolina mountains and the Western North Carolina mountains, local WYFF-TV reported. There was also a chance a tornado could strike the area.

“These short lived tornadoes will continue to develop across parts of South Carolina and Georgia on Monday,” said AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski.

Damaging winds could impact areas from Alabama to Tennessee in addition to the Carolinas and Georgia, the Weather Channel reported.

The National Weather Service also issued a storm surge warning for regions from the Georgia border all the way to the north end of Charleston County in South Carolina. Waters could reach heights of 6 feet in certain areas, the service said.

“Let’s put it in common-sense terms,” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, according to the Post and Courier. “If you flooded in the past, you will probably flood again. Now is the time to leave before that occurs. Don’t wait until the water starts rising.”

Irma was expected to travel inland through Georgia and Alabama into Tuesday before finally dissipating into a tropical rainstorm around Tennessee, according to AccuWeather

“What is left of Irma is expected to slow down and perhaps stall for a time in Tennessee and Kentucky,” said Kottlowski.

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