Tropical Storm Debby continued to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, August 4, with its track extending towards the Big Bend area of Florida and is expected to make landfall in the region on Monday.
According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center issued on Sunday morning, Debby was located approximately 155 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and about 205 miles southwest of Cedar Key, Florida. The storm is moving towards the west-northwest at a speed of 13 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, higher than the 50 miles per hour reported a few hours earlier.
Parts of the northern coast of Florida have already received hurricane and tropical storm warnings.
Debby is expected to bring heavy rainfall and coastal flooding to most areas along the Gulf Coast of Florida on Sunday night. Weather forecasts indicate that the storm system may intensify into a hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on Monday, then moving across northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Most areas of Florida remain under a state of emergency, with officials urging residents to prepare before the weather deteriorates. The storm is expected to weaken after landfall.
Meteorologists warn that Debby could bring heavy rain to the northern parts of Florida, as well as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina’s Atlantic coastal areas early next week.
Debby is the fourth named storm in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, and Tropical Storm Chris.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the Big Bend area and the Florida Panhandle. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the west coast of Florida, the southern Florida Keys, and Dry Tortugas. The tropical storm warning extends westward along the narrow strip of land.
Tropical storms and hurricanes can lead to river flooding, overwhelming drainage systems and canals in the region. Forecasters warn that rainfall of 5 to 10 inches could cause “locally severe” flash floods and urban flooding. Weather experts have issued warnings that some rivers on Florida’s west coast could experience moderate flooding.
Texas Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 out of the state’s 67 counties, with 3,000 National Guard members prepared. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an emergency declaration on Saturday night.
The White House stated that federal and Florida officials are in contact, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency having “pre-positioned” resources like water and food. In Tampa alone, officials distributed over 30,000 sandbags to combat flooding.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor stated, “We have cleared out the storm drains. We have conducted a full inspection of generators. We are taking all necessary measures to prepare for the tropical storm.”
Miami Beach has also cleared out its entire stormwater drainage system, including pump stations, in anticipation of heavy rainfall. Temporary pumps have been deployed in low-lying areas, and vacuum trucks are on standby to assist with flood cleanup.
(This article is based on reports from The Associated Press and CBS.)