The National Weather Service, says much of the state, including Athens, and Atlanta in north Georgia, is under a tropical storm warning. Forecasters warn residents to prepare for strong wind, and heavy rain which could lead to flooding.
The city of Savannah, on Georgia's coast, was evacuated for the second time in less than a year because of the impending storm.
By early Monday, around 450,000 Georgia Power and EMC customers mostly in coastal and South Georgia were without power after Irma crossed over into the state overnight, bringing high winds and rain. Thousands of evacuees from Florida have swarmed into Georgia for shelter as they fled Irma in recent days.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the nation's busiest airport, canceled about 800 flights Monday.
