Florida remains on alert for torrential rains as Invest 97L takes aim at eastern Gulf of Mexico

MIAMI – Florida is under a state of emergency Friday as the tropical disturbance Invest 97L aims for the Sunshine State.

State officials are urging people to prepare now as the National Hurricane Center becomes highly confident that the disturbance will develop into at least a tropical depression, if not a tropical storm or hurricane, by the end of this weekend.

If the storm reaches tropical storm strength, it will be named Debby. However, named storm or not, the system is promising several inches of rain for Florida, especially the Gulf Coast.

WHAT IS AN INVEST?

The disturbance’s chances of developing continue to increase as it moves closer to the Straits of Florida and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. 

“That’s the opportunity for development,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “And there is growing confidence that we will likely get a storm out of this. Where it gets fuzzy is how strong does this system get?”

The National Hurricane Center said a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system at 10:30 a.m. ET Friday.

BRYAN NORCROSS: TROPICAL STORM WATCHES OR WARNINGS LIKELY FOR FLORIDA ON FRIDAY

Where is Invest 97L?

According to the NHC, the tropical wave is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola, the southeastern Bahamas, eastern Cuba and the adjacent waters of the southwestern Atlantic Friday morning.

The wave is expected to move near or over Cuba throughout the day Friday and then emerge over the Straits of Florida by Friday night or Saturday, the NHC notes.

“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 agency said. 

WHY ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON COULD TURN ACTIVE AGAIN IN EARLY AUGUST

Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be required for portions of Florida later Friday, the NHC advises.

Regardless of development, heavy rains could cause areas of flash flooding across Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas through the weekend, and anyone living or visiting these locations should continue to monitor the progress of this system.  

Florida begins to prepare as flood threat increases

The FOX Forecast Center said showers and thunderstorms are already tearing off from the center of the tropical disturbance and impacting southern portions of Florida on Friday morning.

Initial forecasts have to 3-6 inches of rain or more for Florida and eventually up the southeastern U.S. coast. 

This comes as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Thursday.

“Florida, you guys have to prepare today (Friday),” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “I would recommend going to the gas station this morning. Go to the grocery store. Because once we have watches and warnings up, that’s when things start to get hectic and the lines get long.”

In Seminole County, home to the Orlando area, county officials are handing out free sand bags on Friday for residents to prepare for potential flooding.

“Every resident can take 15 bags per household,” FOX 35 Orlando’s Marley Capper told FOX Weather. “That is more than in the past, so they really want to make sure residents are prepped and ready.”

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The FOX Forecast Center said there is growing confidence about what’s going to happen over the next 24 hours as the system moves into the Florida Straits and then into the Eastern Gulf. 

The next unclear aspect is the storm’s destination after Sunday and leading into Monday.

“We have this trough sitting to the north. Does it sink south enough to pick it up?” Merwin said. “Unfortunately, we also have a ridge of high pressure that’s baking the U.S. If that nudges in too fast, it can stall out the system. And then we could have an increase in the rain forecast and flooding potential for the state of Florida, even Georgia and South Carolina.”