Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday waived state restrictions on vehicles transporting emergency supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

The executive order signed Monday afternoon suspends regulations on size and time of travel of trucks bringing supplies, mobile housing units and other equipment to be used for Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville has been activated in anticipation of Tropical Storm Irma moving toward Middle and West Tennessee Monday night, bringing representatives from a number of state departments together to monitor the storm's path and potential damage.

Wind advisory in affect in Nashville area

A wind advisory is in effect for Middle Tennessee starting at 4 p.m., Monday as the outer bands of Hurricane Irma begin to move into the region after the storm slammed into Florida on Sunday.

Sustained winds of 20-35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45-50 mph are expected, according to Faith Borden, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The wind advisory is issued through 7 a.m., Tuesday, Borden said.

Middle Tennessee could also see 1-3 inches of rain, beginning early afternoon on Monday and in earnest during the evening into tomorrow.

Lighter periods of rain are expected into Thursday with a half inch of rain or less expected after Tuesday night. Flooding is not expected, Borden said.

How Irma is moving

Hurricane Irma should become tropical storm around Valdosta, Ga., around 1 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service. It will not be a tropical storm when it reaches Middle Tennessee.

Irma is expected to be downgraded into a tropical depression between Birmingham and Florence, Ala., around 1 p.m., Tuesday, as the storm moves northwest, Borden said.

As of 5 a.m. ET, The storm's center was 60 miles north of Tampa. The storm was later downgraded to a tropical storm Monday morning.

Watch: Hurricane Irma live stream — Webcams show powerful storm lash Florida

Irma is moving to the north-northwest at 18 mph. It is expected to be in Middle Tennessee and in Memphis area by the middle of the week.

The storm is forecast to weaken as it moves along the northwestern coast of the Florida peninsula. Millions have been left without power in Florida.

More:Hurricane Irma: Where it is now, and what we know

How much rain will Nashville receive?

Faith Borden, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Nashville office, said Middle Tennessee will see anywhere from one to three inches of rain through Tuesday night. There could be another half inch of rain after that, she said.

That would mean Nashville would see less rain than in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which Borden said totaled about four to six inches.

How is Tennessee preparing?

Gov. Bill Haslam issued an executive order Saturday to help those who have fled Florida. The executive order allows health care providers licensed in another state to practice in Tennessee and allows pharmacists to dispense a 14-day supply to evacuees. The order also allows evacuees the ability to receive department of health services.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump spoke with Haslam, as well as the governors of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The phone call, which was first confirmed by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, lasted about ten minutes, a spokeswoman for Haslam said.

"(President Trump) called to stress the federal government's willingness to help in any way it can when the storm reaches Tennessee," said Jennifer Donnals.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.