Tropical storm Debby is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declaring a state of emergency in the majority of the state’s counties.
Storm Debby is expected to become a hurricane before landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday, and is currently west of southern Florida traveling north-northwestward. Wind gusts have topped 45 mph throughout the Florida Keys, the southernmost part of the Sunshine State, since Saturday.
In a 5 a.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Debby was located about 195 miles south-southwest of Tampa and about 255 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key. It is expected to make landfall on the northeastern Florida coast by 2 p.m. ET on Monday.
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The NHC has a hurricane watch active from west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass and from east of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown. For the rest of western Florida, from the Keys up to north of Tampa Bay and the central Panhandle region, tropical storm warnings and watches have been issued. Moreover, the Georgia coast from the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Altamaha Sound is under a tropical storm watch.
In Florida’s Big Bend, a storm surge warning is in effect from Aripeka northward to Indian Pass. South of this area, a storm surge watch extends to Bonita Beach, while northward it continues to Aripeka, covering Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor as well. The Georgia coast from the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Altamaha Sound is also under a storm surge watch.
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“It cannot be ruled out that Debby could intensify into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds above 95 miles per hour or even higher, and people in the storm’s path should be aware of that risk to help guide their preparations,” AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jon Porter said in a statement sent to Newsweek, who also warned of potentially “catastrophic flooding.”
“If there is heavy rain inland across the Carolinas, that water will eventually enter rivers and other waterways that flow toward the coast,” he continued. “Water flowing toward the coast, coupled with the persistent onshore flow, can back up the rivers because they won’t be able to drain, further amplifying what can already be major flooding concerns along and near the coastal areas.”
The NHC has projected the following above ground water levels caused by peak surge occurring during high tide:
- Suwannee River to Aucilla River: 6-10 feet
- Yankeetown, FL to Suwannee River: 4-7 feet
- Aucilla River, FL to Ochlockonee River: 4-6 feet
- Aripeka, FL to Yankeetown: 3-5 feet
- Ochlockonee River, FL to Indian Pass: 3-5 feet
- Bonita Beach, FL to Aripeka: 2-4 feet
- Tampa Bay: 2-4 feet
- Charlotte Harbor: 2-4 feet
- Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Altamaha Sound, Georgia: 2-4 feet
The NHC has also said a “few tornadoes” are possible going into Monday morning over western and northern Florida and southern Georgia.
Governor Ron DeSantis Gives Update on Tropical Storm Debby and Disaster Preparedness https://t.co/nTL9xt72co
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 4, 2024
Speaking from Tallahassee, DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with 3,000 National Guard members being activated, according to a report by The Associated Press. He said there is a possibility there could be “serious intensification” between now and when Debby makes landfall, warning of possible “95 mph sustained winds.”
He also warned of downed trees and likely power interruptions, warning all those in the path of the storm to “assume that’s going to happen.”
