Tropical Storm Debby Strengthens into a Hurricane: Track and Track
Although still a tropical storm, Debby is approaching hurricane strength, producing maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 70 mph.
Debby will continue to rapidly intensify overnight as it moves north over the warm waters of the Gulf. It is expected to become a hurricane tonight. It is expected to strengthen to at least a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall along the Big Bend region of Florida Monday morning (around 7 a.m. ET), producing sustained winds near 85 mph and wind gusts that could reach over 100 mph.
Located about 90 miles southwest of Cedar Key, Florida, the storm continues to impact Florida’s Gulf Coast with heavy rain, storm surge, powerful winds and even tornadoes.
A wind gust of 56 mph was reported in St. Petersburg, with two tornadoes reported in central Florida.
A wind gust of 60 mph was also reported near Sarasota, Florida.
There have also been numerous reports of flooding due to heavy rains and storm surges on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The tornado warning covering much of north and central Florida and southern Georgia has been extended until 6 a.m. ET Monday.
Once Debby reaches land, it will weaken. However, the lack of a steering current will cause the storm to slow considerably. While its exact path remains uncertain, model forecasts suggest the storm will drift toward the Atlantic or the southeast coast Monday night before winding its way back toward Georgia and the Carolinas. Interaction with the Atlantic could re-energize Debby, but that will depend greatly on the storm’s track.
Although the track and timing of Debby remain uncertain later this week, there is high confidence that it will bring historic rainfall and significant flooding to parts of the Southeast.
Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are possible from the Big Bend region of Florida to southeastern Georgia and the Carolinas. Parts of coastal Georgia and South Carolina will be in the thick of the heaviest rainfall. There, totals of 10 to 20 inches are possible, with up to 30 inches locally in some areas. Because of this, significant urban and river flooding is expected.
Aside from the rain, hurricane- and tropical-storm-force winds will continue to blow across Florida and will likely intensify Sunday night into Monday as the storm moves closer to the coast, with areas just south and east of the storm’s eyewall seeing the strongest gusts early Monday morning.
Storm surge will also worsen along the northern and central Florida Gulf Coast tonight through Monday morning, with the highest tide expected between the Suwannee River and the Ochlockonee River (6 to 10 feet).
All tropical alerts remain unchanged since the last update.
– Shawnie Caslin Martucci, ABC News meteorologist
