TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With severe weather moving into the Central Florida area, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 counties, including all of Central Florida.
The declaration activates the state’s emergency management plan and allows the state to move agencies to help with weather response and recovery needs, activate the Florida National Guard as needed, and request federal help.
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The counties under the emergency order include:
Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
Strong storms have already caused damage in the Florida Panhandle, with reports of several tornadoes.
Parts of northern Florida are also under a tornado watch, including Flagler County.
The main squall line is expected to reach the northern Central Florida counties from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The line will shift quickly south toward the I-4 corridor between 4-6 p.m.
After sunset, the threat increases for the southern counties (Osceola and Brevard counties) between 6-8 p.m.
There is a potential for damaging wind gusts and tornadoes, as well as flooding.
Make sure you have multiple ways of being notified of warnings where you are on Tuesday, including the FREE News 6 Pinpoint Weather App, which features one-touch radar and updates from News 6 meteorologists.
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