President Donald Trump said in a statement on Wednesday that Hurricane Florence may be turning slightly southward, which means it could affect the US state of Georgia.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster's office announced on Tuesday that he has lifted evacuation orders for southern counties that were threatened by Hurricane Florence.

The US state of South Carolina has mobilized about 1,600 National Guard members in preparation of Hurricane Florence, a major Category 4 storm that is expected to impact large parts of the US East Coast later this week, the US Department of Defense said in a news release on Tuesday.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement on Tuesday that she has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Florence has slightly weakened on Tuesday but is expected to regain its strength later in the day, the National Weather Service said in its 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. GMT) update.