The Latest: Florida's Gulf coast braces for tropical storm

This NOAA satellite image taken Thursday, September 01, 2016 at 12:45 AM EDT shows large amounts of thunderstorm activity occurring offshore of the southeastern United States, extending offshore of the Mid-Atlantic. Tropical Storm Hermine is also observed in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, slowly marching northward towards the Gulf shore. Some isolated rain showers are also moving ahead of a cold front draped across New England and into the Mid-west. (NOAA/Weather Underground via AP) (The Associated Press)

MIAMI – The Latest on Tropical Storm Hermine, which forecasters say could make landfall as a hurricane in Florida: (all times local):

8 a.m.:

Residents in some low-lying communities of Florida are being asked to evacuate as Tropical Storm Hermine takes aim at the state.

The Tallahassee Democrat (http://on.tdo.com/2c2jFxe) reports emergency management officials in Franklin County have issued a mandatory evacuation notice for people living on St. George Island, Dog Island, Alligator Point and Bald Point. Residents in other low-lying areas prone to flooding area also being asked to evacuate.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Big Bend from the Suwannee River to Mexico Beach. On the East Coast, a tropical storm warning has been issued for an area that extends from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina.

Hermine's maximum sustained winds Thursday morning are near 60 mph (95 kph). Some strengthening is forecast and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says Hermine is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida on Thursday night or early Friday.

___

7:40 a.m.

Florida's Gulf coast is bracing Thursday for a hit from Tropical Storm Hermine, which forecasters say could make landfall as a hurricane.