Idalia is officially a hurricane as its winds picked up to 75 mph early Tuesday morning amid its trajectory toward Florida.

Cuba and Florida's Gulf Coast are expected to see significant impacts, as forecasters have warned the storm could register as a Category 3 hurricane by the time it reaches Florida Wednesday morning. Georgia and the Carolinas could also see flooding as the week goes on.

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A Category 3 hurricane has winds of 111-129 mph that are "extremely dangerous" and "will cause extensive damage," according to the National Weather Service.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has declared a state of emergency for 46 counties. Florida has 67 counties in total. The governor said the Florida National Guard is mobilizing 1,100 members in anticipation of the hurricane.

Hurricane Idalia presents "a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect, including Tampa Bay and the Big Bend region of Florida," the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory at 5 a.m. EDT.

"Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida near the track of the center of Idalia," the agency added. "Areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally significant, are expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia beginning today into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday."

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DeSantis encouraged Floridians to have a plan in place and said residents on Monday had time to make sure their hurricane supply kit is stocked up. The governor said local officials will be issuing evacuation orders for areas that will be highly affected.