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Lake Wales
Saturday, October 18, 2025

Governor of Florida Issues State of Emergency in Preparation for Potential Landfall of Tropical System

Date:

The National Weather Service announced just after 4:00 p.m. on August 1, 2024 that a tropical wave, closely watched over the past few days, is currently near Hispaniola moving through Turks & Caicos as well as the southeast Bahamas. 

This wave is currently moving in a WNW direction. It is expected to see some development as it approaches the Florida Straits and Gulf of Mexico. It is likely to strengthen into a tropical depression or possibly a tropical storm later on in the weekend or early next week. 

National Weather Services offers the following information:

“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.”

Stay tuned to Lake Wales Daily for further updates and information.

Remember to send us your tips and photos here at Lake Wales Daily. Be safe.

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Maria Iannucci

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