Ida weakened to a tropical storm early Monday as it raced toward landfall somewhere near Pensacola.

But coastal communities in four states were still bracing for gale force winds, heavy rains and pounding waves likely to leave Gulf Coast beaches badly eroded.

The threat was serious enough that in the western Florida Panhandle, schools were closed, beachside towns were urged to evacuate and Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency for the region as a precaution.

At 10 a.m. Monday, the National Hurricane Center said the cooler Gulf of Mexico waters and strong wind shear had taken significant steam out of compact, fast-moving Ida. The storm's sustained winds had dropped from a peak of 115 mph to 70 mph. Ida, about 275 miles south-southeast of Pensacola, was moving north-northwest at 17 mph.

Tropical storm warnings extended more than 200 miles across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Along the Gulf Coast, Ida's approach wasn't triggering panic and there were no immediate plans for mandatory evacuations.

"Even though we're telling everybody to be prepared, my gut tells me it probably won't be that bad," said Steve Arndt, director of Bay Point Marina Co. in Panama City.

Residents of Pensacola Beach and nearby Perdido Key were encouraged to leave, as were people farther inland who live in mobile homes, and school was canceled in the area Monday and Tuesday.

Some schools around New Orleans and in Alabama also canceled classes Monday. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency as a precaution Sunday, and the National Guard was on high alert there.

With from three to six inches of rain expected, flash flood watches were in effect for all of Northwest Florida and inland flooding was possible in low-lying areas. River flood warnings were also in effect for Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.

As for South Florida, the impact here is expected to be minimal, said Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

This report was supplemented with information from the Associated Press.

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