MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Debby is intensifying, with top winds up to 60 miles per hour as it moves NNW in the Gulf.
Areas from Wakulla to Dixie counties are under a hurricane warning. A hurricane watch is posted east and west of that area from Port St Joe to Yankeetown. Tropical storm warnings are posted for the Gulf coast south of Yankeetown, including the Tampa Bay area.
Evacuations ordered in low-lying areas in several coastal counties, including Franklin, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy and Citrus Counties. Voluntary evacuations are posted for several counties in the Tampa Bay area.
Storm surge warnings are up from north of Pasco County to Port St Joe while areas south of there are under watches. Storm surges expected at 2-4 feet in Tampa Bay, 3-5 feet on the Nature Coast, 6-10 feet in the Big Bend.
At this morning's update from the state emergency operations center, Governor DeSantis says he's activated the Florida National Guard with a variety of resources pre-staged, including generators, water, and meals. More than a hundred FDOT crews will be available to clear roads of debris.
Meantime, National Hurricane Center forecasters are now watching a new disturbance east of the Windward Islands, given a 10 percent chance of development over the next 48 hours.
The full 8 a.m. update on Debby is below:
BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Debby Intermediate Advisory Number 8A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL042024
800 AM EDT Sun Aug 04 2024
...DEBBY EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY BEFORE LANDFALL IN THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION...
SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...26.3N 84.2W
ABOUT 155 MI...255 KM SW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 205 MI...330 KM SSW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Tropical Storm Watch and Storm Surge Watch have been extended
northward along the Georgia and South Carolina coast to the South
Santee River.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Florida coast from Aripeka northward to Indian Pass
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to Aripeka, including
Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor
* Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's
River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Florida coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass
* Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* The Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge including the Dry
Tortugas
* Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to East Cape Sable
* Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* The Florida Keys north of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5
Bridge
* Florida coast west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
* Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's
River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36
hours before the anticipated first occurrence of
tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside
preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before
the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds,
conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.
This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these
areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property
from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local
officials.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.
Interests elsewhere in Florida and the southeastern coast of the
United States should monitor the progress of this system.
Additional watches and warnings will likely be required later today.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Debby was
located near latitude 26.3 North, longitude 84.2 West. Debby is
moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn
toward the north is expected later today, followed by a slower
motion toward the northeast on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast
track, the center will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico
through tonight and reach the Florida Big Bend coast Monday morning.
Debby is then expected to move slowly across northern Florida and
southern Georgia Monday and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h)
with higher gusts. Continued strengthening is forecast, and Debby
is expected to become a hurricane by tonight before it reaches the
Florida Big Bend coast. Weakening is expected on Monday and Tuesday
after Debby moves inland.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
from the center. A wind gust of 57 mph (92 km/h) was recently
reported at Sand Key in the Florida Keys.
The minimum central pressure based on Hurricane Hunter aircraft
observations is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Debby can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning
area and possible in the hurricane watch areas early Monday, with
tropical storm conditions expected to arrive this evening. Tropical
storm conditions are expected to spread northward over the tropical
storm warning areas through tonight. Tropical storm conditions are
possible in the watch area in the Florida Keys during the next
several hours, in the Florida Panhandle on Monday, and along the
coast of Georgia and South Carolina Monday night.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters
moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the
following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if
the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Suwannee River to Aucilla River, FL to, FL...6-10 ft
Yankeetown, FL to Suwannee River, FL...4-7 ft
Aucilla River, FL to Ochlockonee River, FL...4-7 ft
Aripeka, FL to Yankeetown, FL...3-5 ft
Ochlockonee River, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft
Bonita Beach, FL to Aripeka, FL...2-4 ft
Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River, SC...2-4 ft
Tampa Bay...2-4 ft
Charlotte Harbor...2-4 ft
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation,
please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge.
RAINFALL: Debby is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12
inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, across portions of
northern Florida through Friday morning. This rainfall will likely
result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with
significant river flooding expected.
Across portions of southeast Georgia and South Carolina, 10 to 20
inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 30 inches, are expected
through Friday morning. This potentially historic rainfall will
likely result in areas of severe and widespread flash and urban
flooding, with significant river flooding expected.
For Cuba, additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with
localized higher amounts, will be possible through this morning.
This will result in isolated to scattered areas of flooding.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding
associated with Tropical Storm Debby, please see the National
Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk
graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible through Monday morning,
mainly over western and northern Florida and southern Georgia.
SURF: Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the
Gulf coast of Florida through Monday. Swells will begin to affect
the Southeast U.S. coast on Monday and continue through the middle
of the week. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening
surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your
local weather office.
Photo: NHC
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