Tropical Storm Debby became a Category 1 hurricane late on Sunday and continued to gain strength over the Gulf of Mexico, as Florida’s northeastern coast braced for an early Monday landfall, along with potential heavy downpours and severe flooding.
Cedar Key residents board up the windows of their businesses on Sunday in preparation for Hurricane ... [+]
In its late Sunday night advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Debby’s maximum sustained wind speeds have strengthened to 75 mph with higher gusts.
Debby will likely gain additional strength before it reaches Florida’s Gulf Coast on Monday morning, the NHC said.
A hurricane warning is now in effect from Yankeetown to Indian Pass, covering most of the so-called “Big Bend” region of the Florida Gulf Coast.
Tropical Storm Warnings and Storm Surge Watches are also in effect, covering parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Some areas of the Gulf Coast may see storm surges between 6 to 10 feet, with the advisory warning “This is a life-threatening situation.”
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Debby’s center will move through the Gulf of Mexico overnight before making landfall in Florida on Monday morning. The storm is expected to “move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia Monday and Tuesday,” before reaching the Georgia coast on Tuesday night. The storm is expected to weaken on Monday and Tuesday as it moves inland.
Debby is also expected to bring severe rainfall over parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina this week. Portions of central and northern Florida could see between 6 to 12 inches of rain through Friday morning, likely resulting in some flash flooding. Parts of southeast Georgia and South Carolina, however, will witness a more severe downpour, between 10 to 20 inches, through Friday morning, which could cause “catastrophic flooding,” according to the NHC.
85,479. The number of homes and businesses in Florida which were without power early on Monday, due to Sunday’s rough weather conditions ahead of Debby’s landfall.
Tropical Storm Debby now expected to slam Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 1 hurricane (Miami Herald)
Debby becomes hurricane, expected to barrel into Florida’s northwest coast Monday; threat of storm surge looms large (Sun Sentinel)