Florida News That Impacts You – August 8th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Only 6,800 Floridians are without power statewide this morning following rapid recovery efforts in northern Florida following the impact of Hurricane Debby. The most negatively impacted community remains Jefferson County in Florida’s Big Bend where approximately 13% of customers remain without power.
- The Florida Highway Patrol is warning drivers against modifying state issued license plates. In announcing a crackdown on modified license plates which are commonly airbrushed, vinyl-wrapped or personally customized, the FHP stated that there’s been a 98% increase in modified tags over the past four years. Any alterations of license plates are illegal, and offenders will be issued a moving violation, a $60 fine, 3-points on one’s license and the cost of replacing the license plate.
- A new study of Florida’s estuaries conducted by the University of South Florida and the National Park Service has shown that Florida’s estuaries have risen in temperature at a rate that’s up to 500% faster than global oceans over the past 22 years causing researchers to have increased concerns about vulnerable wildlife. Of particular concern is the impact on seagrass and coral which are vulnerable to especially high-water temperatures and that are vital for supporting native wildlife. Researchers intend to use the data to conduct new research with Florida Fish and Wildlife and NOAA about potential risks from the elevated water temperatures.
- It’ll be cloudy and hot with occasional showers today with highs in the low 90’s. Temperatures will be about 5 degrees warmer than usual for this date. Debby is a weak tropical storm following a second landfall in South Carolina. The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance in the southern Atlantic moving towards the Lesser Antilles with a 20% chance of developing.
- Gas prices dropped three cents on Wednesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.40 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.60 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.47 and in Indian River County the average is $3.43 per gallon.