State of emergency issued for 41 Florida counties ahead of storm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday issued a state of emergency for 41 counties ahead of tropical weather that is likely later this week.

The counties are: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.

A hurricane will likely track north and make landfall on Thursday somewhere between the Nature Coast and Panama City.

In terms of intensity, a category 2 or 3 would be its most likely maximum strength at landfall, according to our Spectrum News Weather Experts.

The Governor’s declaration authorizes him to make resources immediately available to rescue, evacuate, shelter and provide essential commodities.

It may also position the state to seek federal assistance because of the weather.