Hurricane Nate is expected to make a direct strike overnight tonight on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a Category 1 storm.

Forecasts for wind speed have increased and so has the risk for storm surge. Hurricane Nate is expected to make landfall in the early morning hours Sunday at about 1 a.m. — that’s Saturday night. Landfall is expected to be in the vicinity of Gulfport, Biloxi or Pass Christian. Those Mississippi cities face the biggest risk of storm surge, also, according to the National Weather Service.

“LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: EQUIVALENT CAT 1 HURRICANE FORCE WIND – PEAK WIND FORECAST: 55-75 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 95 MPH – WINDOW FOR TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS: EARLY THIS EVENING UNTIL SUNDAY AFTERNOON – WINDOW FOR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS: EARLY THIS EVENING UNTIL EARLY SUNDAY MORNING – CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: HIGH – THE WIND THREAT HAS INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency in six southernmost counties. State officials, at a briefing Friday in Gulfport, warned that Nate’s main danger in that state will be from up to 10 feet (3 meters) of storm surge in low-lying coastal areas, as well as from winds that could damage mobile homes.

“If you are in an area that has flooded, I would recommend you evacuate that area until the storm has ended and the water has receded for your own personal safety and for the safety of the first responders that will be responding in the event you are trapped,” Bryant said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.