The tropical disturbance dubbed Invest 97L, now called Potential Tropical Cyclone Four (PTC Four), is churning its way closer to the United States. In anticipation, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida issued a state of emergency proclamation.
According to meteorologists, there is still a lack of clarity regarding its possible effects on the United States. While much is still uncertain, the most recent model predictions put the storm’s path toward the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
As the system moves toward the Gulf of Mexico, it might form a tropical depression or even a tropical storm by the end of the weekend or the beginning of next week.
DeSantis’s emergency declaration covers the majority of the state, with the exception of South Florida. Forecasters expect heavy rains and flooding regardless of whether the storm forms a depression.
PTC Four is cutting a wide swath of scattered thunderstorms and showers over Cuba. Before reaching landfall in Florida, PTC Four may strengthen into a tropical depression, making severe weather a real possibility for the state. Experts expect the storm to make landfall in Florida after this weekend or early next week.
A state of emergency declaration is a preventative step to ensure that people living in these regions are secure and prepared. Declaring a state of emergency allows Florida to begin making preparations for the possibility of its impacts, even while its precise trajectory and consequences are still unknown.
Ashley Moody, Florida’s Attorney General, has also activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline. Consequently, under a state of emergency caused by a storm, the state bans the imposition of exorbitant price rises on necessities.
The executive order that DeSantis signed emphasizes the need to prepare for a potential “major disaster” in 54 out of the 67 counties in North, Central, and Southwest Florida. The emergency order does not apply to any county in South Florida other than Monroe County.
The hurricane center’s forecast for the wave’s likelihood of developing into a depression over the next two days was 40% as of Thursday night, with a 70% chance for the following week. Additionally, the tropical wave is bringing torrential rains to the area, which could lead to devastating floods.
