WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — With potential Tropical Storm 9 forming in the western Caribbean, the Sunshine State is already bracing for a possible hurricane later this week. On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 counties.

Palm Beach and Okeechobee counties and areas along the Treasure Coast are not affected by the order.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine triggered warnings on Monday from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), which warned that the low pressure system is likely to form and is heading north. As it moves north, it could become a hurricane as early as Wednesday. Tropical storm and hurricane warnings have been issued for Cuba and parts of Mexico.

The NHC stated that if the system develops, it could make landfall in the United States as a Category 2 storm.

In the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, the tropical system will remain west of us, so we don’t see any directional impacts. However, rain chances are increasing and it will be very windy on Thursday and Friday.

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In his statement, the governor warned of a significant risk of storm surges, coastal flooding and erosion from heavy rains and flash floods on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The storms and the accompanying strong winds could topple trees and power lines and cause power outages.

In addition, the remnants of Hurricane Deby have caused groundwater and river levels in northern and central West Asia to rise above normal levels, meaning that another round of heavy rains is likely to result in river flooding that will persist for some time.

Taken together, these conditions could also endanger travel by affecting highways, roads and bridges, as well as airports and hospitals.

The list of counties affected by the state of emergency:

• Alachua
• bay
• Bradford
• Calhoun
• Charlotte
• Citrus fruits
• Necklace
• Columbia
• Dixie
• Escambia
• Franklin
• Gadsden
• Gilchrist
• golf
• Hamilton
• Hernando
• Hillsborough
• Holmes
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Lafayette
• lee
• Leon
• Raise
• Freedom
• Madison
• Manatee
• Marion
• Monroe
• Okaloosa
• Pasco
• Pinellas
• Santa Rosa
• Sarasota
• Sumter
• Suwannee
• Taylor
• union
• Wakulla
• Walton
• Washington

The next two named storms will be called Helene and Isaac.

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