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Tropical Storm Debbie is expected to strengthen rapidly as it approaches the Big Bend region of the Florida coast on Monday. Debbie will then weaken and could cause severe flooding in the Southeast.
Debbie will hit the Florida Peninsula on Sunday, bringing heavy rains, gusty winds, coastal flooding and some tornadoes, and will hit the Southeast coast early in the coming week, during which time Debbie may slow or even stall, prolonging its impact.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast from the Suwannee River to the Okoloconee River.
A hurricane watch is in effect from the Oklokonee River west to Indian Water Pass and from the Suwannee River east to Yankeetown. Tropical storm warnings and watches cover the rest of western Florida, from East Sable Point to the northern and central Panhandle areas of Tampa Bay. A tropical storm watch is also in effect for the Georgia and South Carolina coasts from the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to the South Santee River.
A storm surge warning has also been issued for the Big Bend area of Florida, from mid-Longboat Key north to Indian Waterway. A storm surge watch extends from that area south to Bonita Beach and north to Aripeka. This includes Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. A storm surge watch has also been issued for the Georgia coast from the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to the South Santee River, where life-threatening storm surges are possible.
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Tropical Storm Debbie is currently located west of Florida in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, moving north-northwest. Rain is spreading across the Florida Peninsula, but the heaviest rainfall is expected along parts of the Gulf Coast. Tornado warnings were issued at times Sunday.
Wind gusts could reach 50 mph at times throughout the Florida Keys Sunday morning.
The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center shows the hurricane making landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, but Debbie is expected to strengthen quickly over the warmest waters in the entire Atlantic basin. It would be wise to prepare for a higher-category hurricane than currently forecast.
Via Weather.com
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