Florida mobilizes state guard ahead of Gulf storm approaching

By Owen Girard

Published Dec. 15, 2023, 4:24 p.m. ET | Updated Dec. 15, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers emergency press conference for future Hurricane Idalia impacts, Tallahassee, Fla., Aug. 27, 2023. (Video/Gov. Ron DeSantis' office)

Eric Daugherty contributed to this story

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The governor mobilized the Florida State Guard in preparation for upcoming severe weather concerns over the weekend.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said the guard will assist the Florida Division of Emergency Management and other state agencies through preparation and recovery.

“The Florida State Guard plays an essential role in Florida’s preparation for and swift response to severe weather,” DeSantis said. “We thank them for their willingness to mobilize on short notice as we prepare for potential severe weather impacts this weekend.”

The division of emergency management warned Floridians to prepare for flooding, strong wind gusts and isolated tornadoes as the low pressure storm system approaches.

The National Weather Service said the system’s impacts will move in onto the western coast of Florida by Saturday night.

The service also forecasted a level 2, or “slight” risk of severe weather for around the southern half of the state, as of Friday afternoon.

The rest of Florida is mostly under a level 1 risk; however, these risk levels could change.

“The low pressure system could bring “damaging dusts and a few tornadoes,” the National Weather Service said.

Both the American and European weather models expect a near 1,000 or lower millibar pressure system, which is in the typical expected range for a tropical storm; though, this storm is not tropical.