DeSantis issues state of emergency ahead of Fred. Storm to approach Florida Panhandle Monday

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Friday evening for 23 Florida counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — ahead of Tropical Depression Fred's expected landfall in the state in the coming days.

The order noted that certain state facilities have recently experienced flooding that "could be exacerbated by heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Depression Fred and require emergency assistance."

The storm was about 210 miles southeast of Key West and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph, according to the 4 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.

Latest:NHC: Fred 'remains disorganized,' tropical storm conditions expected in Florida Keys Saturday

Fred isn't dead, brace for Grace:Rainmaker coming with another tropical threat on deck | WeatherTiger

Fred remained poorly organized Friday, but slow strengthening was expected and the system could become a tropical storm again Friday night or Saturday as it comes near or offshore of the west coast of Florida this weekend. 

As of late Friday afternoon, Fred was forecast to move northwest into the eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend and approach the Panhandle on Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama.

The storm's landfall remained uncertain Friday evening.

Tropical Depression Fred's impact on Escambia, Santa Rosa

NWS Mobile forecasters said no local impacts from Fred were expected through Sunday morning.

There is a potential for heavy rainfall and strong, gusty winds across parts of Northwest Florida late Sunday into Monday if the storm's center tracks farther west, according to the NWS. The track shifted slightly west late Friday afternoon and additional shifts are possible.

If the center remains east, local impacts are expected to be minimal.

In the event that tropical storm conditions do occur, the earliest reasonable time that tropical storm force winds could arrive in Northwest Florida would be Sunday night, though the most likely time for that to happen is Monday morning.

The risk for rip currents increases this weekend through early next week.

Surf was expected to build 3 to 5 feet across Northwest Florida Sunday night into Monday. Forecasters warned the surf height forecast could increase further, particularly for the western Panhandle.