MADRID, Spain.- The United States meteorological service reported that the Tropical Storm Debby strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it approached Florida Sunday night.
Forecasters are warning that Debby’s heavy rains could lead to catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia. The storm is expected to make landfall around noon Monday, August 5, in Florida’s Big Bend region, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). A tornado warning was in effect for parts of Florida and Georgia until 6 a.m. Monday.
“Hurricane Debby is very close to making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend. Life-threatening storm surge is expected in parts of Florida and major flooding is forecast across the southeastern U.S.,” precise the NHC in a recent tweet.
Debby is expected to move eastward over northern Florida and then station itself over coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, where it could bring record rainfall of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) beginning Tuesday. Authorities are also warning of a dangerous storm surge on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with flooding of 6 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) between the Ochlockonee and Suwannee rivers.
The effects of the flooding, which could last through Friday, are expected to be especially severe in low-lying areas near the coast, including places such as Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
At a press conference this Sunday, the governor of FloridaRon DeSantiswarned that the storm could cause “very, very significant flooding that will occur in north-central Florida,” comparing it to Hurricane Idalia, but “much wetter.”
Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, preceded by Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris, which formed in June.
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