Florida issued an emergency preparedness declaration Thursday as tropical disturbance Invest 97L continues to strengthen as it moves toward the state’s Gulf Coast.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the declaration around 5 p.m. and Alachua County Emergency Management sent a release stating it is monitoring the storm.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in a release sent at 8 p.m., “heavy rains could cause areas of flash flooding across Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas through the weekend.”
“The wave is expected to move west-northwestward near or over Cuba on Friday and then emerge over the Straits of Florida Friday night or Saturday. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for additional development after that time, and a tropical depression is likely to form this weekend over the Straits of Florida or eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Peninsula,” according to the NHC.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will send an aircraft up on Friday to investigate Invest 97L, which has a 70% chance of forming into a tropical depression within the next seven days.
The Alachua County release said, “The forecast models are still very uncertain, and it is still too early to know the timing, landfall location, intensity, or local impacts. Forecasts for this storm range anywhere from Alachua County experiencing slightly higher than normal rainfall to significant rainfall impacts of 20 or more inches over several days. Until the storm becomes better organized, the continued uncertainty will remain with the forecast.”
County residents and visitors are asked to take steps to secure property in areas that are at high risk of flooding.
To stay informed on weather conditions, sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777.