TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is bracing for the potential growth of a storm system expected to move south into the Gulf of Mexico later this week, with particular attention given to Panhandle counties impacted by Hurricane Michael last year.
Jason Mahon, spokesman for the division, said in a prepared statement Monday evening that the state continues to monitor and pre-plan for the system.
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“The Division is also working closely with local officials in counties impacted by Hurricane Michael to ensure there are adequate supplies of food, water, shelter, stormwater pumps and generators,” Mahon said in the statement. “Additionally, the Division is in contact with utility providers, telecommunications companies and other private-sector partners during this pre-planning stage.”
The National Hurricane Center Monday afternoon projected a trough of low pressure moving across central Georgia had a 30 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next two days, with an 80 percent chance of developing into a a depression within five days.
“Environmental and ocean conditions are forecast to be conducive for development and a tropical depression is likely to form by the end of the week while the low moves slowly westward over northern Gulf of Mexico,” the hurricane center predicted on Monday. “Regardless of development, this system has the potential to produce heavy rainfall along portions of the northern and eastern U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.”