Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency in 25 counties as a precaution due to Tropical Storm Isaias in the Gulf.
A system in the Gulf was upgraded Wednesday morning to Tropical Storm Isaias, with current intensity models showing it could strengthen into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season’s first hurricane.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have recommended that interests in the Yucatan Peninsula and the northern U.S. Gulf Coast closely monitor the progress of the system.
Computer models seem to agree on a path first east, then north toward an area within a range that stretches from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect at this time.
The executive order signed Tuesday by Gov. DeSantis — EO 26-202 — declares a state of emergency in the following counties: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla, and Washington.
“Today, I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency ahead of potential impacts from Tropical Depression 9. This order will allow the Florida Division of Emergency Management to stage critical preparedness resources and ensure Florida is ready to respond,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Floridians should take this time to get disaster plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
RESOURCES | HURRICANE SEASON SPECIAL | WESH LONG-RANGE FORECAST | WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INSURANCE | GENERATOR SETUP | TESTING CHAINSAWS | POST-STORM RESOURCES | DOWNLOAD WESH 2 APP | HURRICANE SUPPLIES | SURVIVAL GUIDE
Tracking the Tropics
Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.
The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Cam Tran, Victoria Wisniewski and Luke Vickery.
>> 2026 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast
>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2