The first named storm of the Atlantic season hammered Florida with rain, heavy winds and tornadoes Thursday as it moved over land toward Georgia and the Carolinas, promising sloppy commutes and waterlogged vacations through the beginning of the weekend.

Tropical Storm Andrea was not expected to strengthen, but forecasters warned it could spawn tornadoes and cause isolated flooding and storm surge before it loses steam over the next two days.

In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday cautioned residents about the storm, which is expected to impact the state today.

"Hurricane season is indeed upon us, and our storm luck being what it is, residents should start to make preparations for inclement weather," Malloy said in a statement. "The current forecast is calling for heavy rain, minor flooding, and high winds, so I want people to take common-sense precautions to secure their property and be aware of deteriorating conditions as this storm approaches."

The National Weather Service said Andrea's 60 mph winds were expected to diminish as it approached. Flooding in low-lying areas and some rivers is possible due to heavy rains that are likely to impact this afternoon's rush hour.

Malloy's press release said Bridgeport, New Haven, New London and other coastal communities may experience tidal flooding.

The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security continues to monitor the storm and is ready to coordinate any response or assistance that may be necessary, the release said.

As of 11 p.m. on Thursday, Andrea was about 40 miles west of Jacksonville after making landfall hours earlier in Florida's Big Bend area. Its maximum sustained winds had fallen to 45 mph and it was moving northeast at 15 mph.

Rains and winds from the storm were forecast to sweep northward along the southeastern U.S. coast Thursday night and today. The storm was expected to lose steam by Saturday as it moves through the eastern United States, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Doug Brindley, who owns a vacation lodging rental service on the northern end of the Outer Banks near Virginia, said he expects all outdoor activities to be washed out Friday, driving tens of thousands of early-summer vacationers toward unexpected shopping sprees.

"We're going to have rain and wind," said Brindley, who owns Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales. "Retailers are going to love it."

He expects new visitors streaming south from their homes across the U.S. Northeast to arrive tired and grumpy.

"They're going to be driving through that mess," Brindley said.