JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Gordon approaches the Gulf Coast.

Gov. Bryant said Monday night that the declaration will make state resources and personnel available to areas affected by the storm.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency warned in a Tuesday update that tornadoes will be possible Tuesday afternoon through the evening. The agency says flash flooding, high winds and storm surge also threatened the southern part of the state.

The governor and other state officials will host a news conference at 3 p.m. Tuesday from Kiln in Hancock County to update the preparedness and response efforts of Tropical Storm Gordon from state agencies and local leadership.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the mouth of the Pearl River in Mississippi to the Alabama-Florida border. The National Hurricane Center is predicting a "life-threatening" storm surge along parts of the central Gulf Coast.