Residents in North Florida and the Gulf Coast should prepare for potential hurricane-force winds, storm surge, flooding, and tornadoes. These hazards are expected to impact the region late Friday night into Saturday morning. The western Florida Panhandle is under hurricane warnings, signaling the likelihood of dangerous conditions. Coastal areas may experience significant flooding and storm surge, while inland regions could face damaging winds and localized flooding. The storm's intensification into a Category 2 hurricane raises concerns for more severe impacts.