Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for several counties in Florida including Polk County.
The National Weather Service announced just after 4:00 p.m. on August 1, 2024 that a tropical wave that’s been closely watched over the past few days is currently near Hispaniola moving through Turks & Caicos as well as the southeast Bahamas.
The wave is moving West – Northwest, and though not much development is excepted over the next day, once it moves closer to Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico, conditions are expected to worsen. It is expected to turn into a tropical depression or possibly even a tropical storm later on in the weekend or early next week.
National Weather Services says the following:
“Topical Depression
A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
Tropical Storm
A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots).”
This early on, there is not a lot of certainly about the storm or its magnitude of potential impacts.
However, the potential for heavy rainfall is possible for much of Florida.
This is a developing storm and it is important to keep an eye on how it develops and its path.
Governor Ron DeSantis has officially issued a state of emergency for several counties in Florida.
“Executive Order (EO) 24-156 (Emergency Management – Invest 97L) declaring the following counties under a state of emergency: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.”
Here is detailed information regarding the executive order the governor has issued:
https://www.flgov.com/2024/08/01/memorandum-executive-order-24-156-emergency-management-invest-97l/
