Aug. 3 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Debby is expected to develop rapidly into a hurricane Sunday night before making landfall in Florida Monday morning, bringing torrential rain and massive flooding, packing winds of 90 miles per hour.
In its 8 p.m. ET update, the National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to bring significant rainfall and cause “historic flooding.” It was 100 miles west of Tampa moving to the northwest at about 12 miles per hour, with current sustained winds of about 70 miles per hour.
The storm “will bring a major flood threat to the Southeastern United States this week,” the NHC said in its latest update.
The storm continues to gradually turn to the right and forecasters have high confidence that the core of the cyclone will reach the Big Bend region of Florida by early Monday morning.
“While Debby moves across the very warm waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and remains in a relatively low wind shear environment, the storm will have an opportunity to strengthen rapidly before reaching the coast,” the NHC said.
Water temperatures over the eastern Gulf of Mexico are in the mid to upper 80s, according to forecasters. Warm ocean waters, typically above 79.7 degrees, provide the necessary heat and moisture that cyclones need to form and then fuel their growth.
“The reliable intensity models all suggest significant strengthening, and the degree of intensification will be most related to how quickly Debby develops an inner core,” the NHC said.
Forecasters are predicting a “significant flooding event” caused by the slow-moving speed of the storm and its erratic movements, as well as heavy rainfall.
A hurricane warning was issued for the Florida Gulf Coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River. The warning has been expanded to the Florida coast, from west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass and from east of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge, and the west coast of the Florida peninsula from south of Yankeetown to East Cape Sable. The warning that had been in place for the Dry Tortugas has been discontinued.
A tropical storm watch stretches from the Florida Keys north of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge, and the Florida coast west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach.
A storm surge warning is in effect from Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge including the Dry Tortugas, to the west coast of the Florida peninsula from south of the Suwannee River to East Cape Sable.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Thursday night in 61 of 67 counties.
After landfall, weakening steering currents should cause the cyclone to slow down while it moves northeastward or eastward over parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia.
The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with maximum rainfall totals up to 18 inches across portions of Florida and across the U.S. coast through Thursday, according to NHC.
Previous storms were Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris.
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