State of Emergency Declared in Florida as Tropical Wave Invest 97 Approaches Gulf of Mexico
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for much of Florida, including Charlotte, Sarasota, and DeSoto counties, in anticipation of the tropical wave Invest 97, which is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico by the weekend.
The National Weather Service (NWS) provided an update on Friday, indicating a 60% chance of increased storm intensity within the next 48 hours and a 90% chance within the next seven days. As the wave moves out of the Saharan dust plume, it is beginning to show signs of organization and convection.
“The wave is expected to move near or over Cuba throughout the day and then emerge over the Straits of Florida tonight or Saturday,” stated the NWS report. “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.” The report also warned of potential heavy rains that could lead to flash flooding in Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas throughout the weekend. Both the GFS and EURO models agree on the general path of the system but differ on its projected strength.
The GFS model suggests the development of a tropical storm by Sunday, with a direct impact on the Tampa Bay area as it crosses Florida and exits into the Atlantic. Conversely, the EURO model predicts a tropical wave traveling up Florida’s Gulf Coast, entering the panhandle, and then moving into the Atlantic.
To further assess the system, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate later on Friday.
