Tropical Storm Debby strengthens, expected to become Category 1 hurricane ahead of Florida landfall
The National Hurricane Center's current forecast suggests Debby will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane prior to landfall Monday. The majority of Florida is under a state of emergency as the Southeast anticipates "potentially historic rainfall" from the system
Tropical Storm Debby continues to slowly strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico with a trajectory toward Florida's Big Bend and impacts are already being felt in the Florida Keys.
The National Hurricane Center's (NHC) current forecast suggests that Debby could become a hurricane before landfall Monday. The majority of the Sunshine State remains under a state of emergency, as officials urge residents to prepare before the weather takes a turn for the worse.
The NHC is forecasting "potentially historic rainfall" across southeast Georgia and South Carolina through Friday, causing widespread flash flooding.
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Hurricane and Storm Surge alerts are in effect for Southwest Florida through the Big Bend region as Debby is expected to continue to gain strength over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect south of Cedar Key through the Everglades and along Florida's west coast to Mexico Beach. Coastal Georgia was also put on alert this weekend with a Tropical Storm Watch from the Florida-Georgia line at the mouth of St. Mary's River to Altamaha Sound.
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(FOX Weather)
'We're expecting widespread heavy rainfall'
NHC Director Michael Brennan told FOX Weather on Saturday that Debby will be a multi-hazard event.
"The biggest hazards are usually the water, and we're expecting widespread heavy rainfall – 5-10 inches across much of Florida up into the coastal southeast U.S. (with) isolated total size of 15 inches," he said. "So certainly substantial risk for freshwater flooding and also the potential for storm surge."
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The latest forecast shows a potential landfall on Monday in Florida's Big Bend, close to where Hurricane Idalia made its historic landfall as a Category 3 hurricane last year.
There is "high confidence" in the scenario that Debby heads northeastward over the next day making landfall in the Big Bend region, according to the NHC.
If the storm hugs the coast, it could make landfall earlier, but if it stays out over the warm waters of the Gulf, then it could undergo further strengthening and become a hurricane before making landfall.
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Intense tropical downpours are expected for portions of Florida and the coastal areas of the Southeast. As Debby intensifies, there is the potential for hurricane-force wind gusts of 74 mph across the state.
Several counties such as Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Jefferson and Dixie have issued evacuation notices ahead of the worst of the flooding.
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Storm surge of 6-10 feet is possible along portions of Florida's Big Bend with 2-4 feet water rise in Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, the NHC warned.
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A flash flooding risk Monday stretches from Jacksonville, Florida, up to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. These areas are in a Level 3 out of 4 risk zone for flash flooding.
"This is the area of greatest concern where we can see that really heavy rainfall unfold," Brennan said.v
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