ATLANTA - Tropical Storm Hermine is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and isolated toadoes to parts of south Georgia with winds of 65 mph as of Thursday moing.

Hermine is expected to become a hurricane before it makes landfall in northwest Florida.

State of Emergency declared for Georgia

Gov. Deal has declared a state of emergency for 56 counties in Georgia ahead of Hermine.

The state of emergency goes into effect at noon Thursday and extends through midnight Saturday.

”Georgia is expected to receive severe weather related to Tropical Storm Hermine through Saturday, Deal said. ”We are working to ensure counties in south, central and coastal Georgia have access to the state resources necessary to prepare and respond when Tropical Storm Hermine enters Georgia. Our Emergency Operations Command will continue closely monitoring this storm and additional counties may be included in this declaration as needed," Deal said.

Where the storm is headed

The storm is currently moving about 12 mph north-northeast in the Gulf of Mexico.

Much of south Georgia is under a tropical storm waing, and parts of central Georgia are under a tropical storm watch.

Winds could be around 75 mph when Hermine makes landfall in the Florida panhandle, and it could remain a Category 1 Hurricane as it moves into southe Georgia.

Georgia impacts

Parts of the southeast metro will see heavy rain from Hermine. Minton says areas could receive 3 to 5 inches of rain within 24 hours beginning around 5 a.m. Friday.

The storm could also spawn toadoes in its southeast quadrant, and lead to power outages in its path.

Gov Deal declares state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Hermine. Here are the counties affected