Tropical Disturbance Targets FL, DeSantis Issues State Of Emergency

FLORIDA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 33 counties on Saturday as a tropical disturbance located near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula moved toward the state.

In a Saturday afternoon update, the National Hurricane Center said the system — dubbed Invest 93L — was producing showers and thunderstorms near the Yucatan Channel as it moved north through the Gulf of Mexico. According to forecasters, the system has a 90 percent chance of organizing and developing into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours.

Thought it wasn't immediately clear if the storm will reach hurricane strength or where it might go, forecast models have the storm curving to the northeast toward Florida, coming ashore along the Gulf coast north of Tampa near the Big Bend area and then heading diagonally across the state to emerge again in the Atlantic Ocean near southeast Georgia.

Should the system continue to develop, advisories will likely be issued later Saturday, NHC forecasters said.

Currently, the storm would be named Idalia if no other tropical storm forms before it.

• Related: 2023 Hurricane, Tropical Storm Names Released For Atlantic Season

In a statement, Gov. DeSantis said state agencies are taking "timely precautions" to ensure Florida communities are prepared.

“I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” DeSantis said in. the order. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”

DeSantis' declaration covers the Gulf coast from the southwestern city of Fort Myers north through Panama City in the Panhandle. The state of emergency includes the following counties:

• Alachua
• Bay
• Calhoun
• Charlotte
• Citrus
• Columbia
• DeSoto
• Dixie
• Franklin
• Gadsden
• Gilchrist
• Gulf
• Hamilton
• Hardee
• Hernando
• Hillsborough
• Jefferson
• Lafayette
• Lee
• Leon
• Levy
• Liberty
• Madison
• Manatee
• Marion
• Pasco
• Pinellas
• Polk
• Sarasota
• Sumter
• Suwannee
• Taylor
• Wakulla

Jimmy Patronis, chief financial officer and state fire marshal, also urged Floridians to take the necessary precautions to prepare their homes and property.

“As Floridians are well aware, tropical storms are often unpredictable and can strengthen quickly," Patronis said in a statement. "I am urging Floridians to prepare now and to heed all watches and warnings from state and local officials. If a tropical storm is formed, it could make landfall Tuesday or Wednesday of next week with the potential to drop heavy amounts of rain which can lead to flooding."

The reminders from state officials came the same day Florida kicked off its second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday of 2023. From Aug. 26 to Sept. 8, residents can purchase emergency supplies like portable generators, batteries, pet food and toiletries free of state sales tax.

• RELATED: 2nd FL Sales Tax Holiday For Hurricane Supplies Runs Through Sept. 8

Guidance on how to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm is available online at floridadisaster.org/planprepare.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.