Hurricane Matthew weakened slightly overnight but remains a major hurricane on track to be extremely close to Florida’s east coast as early as Thursday evening.
And officials hope residents are taking the threat seriously.
Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties are under a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions are possible there in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Lake and Polk counties are under a tropical storm watch.
Forecasters say the watches could be upgraded to warnings later today as Matthew continues to move through the Bahamas and closer to Florida.
Hurricane warnings have already been issued for Indian River County south to just north of Miami.