The Category 2 storm is expected to continue to grow until it reaches the potentially catastrophic Category 4 with winds of 209 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour), and land in the United States on Monday somewhere between the Florida Keys and the South of Georgia, a strip of 800 kilometers (500 miles) that reflects the high level of uncertainty at this time, the National Hurricane Center said.
Since the storm route is not entirely clear, massive evacuations were not ordered.
Along the east coast of Florida, local governments began distributing sand bags, consumers rushed to store food, wood to cover windows and other emergency supplies.