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.
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