Tropical Depression Debby grows stronger
Tropical Depression Debby is already moving over the Gulf of Mexico, and continues to strengthen into a hurricane by the time it makes landfall in the next few days.
Tropical Depression Debby is forecast to slow significantly after making landfall and bring several days of rain to the southeastern US.
But it increases the chances of significant flooding in the area.
The hurricane warning was issued for parts of Florida’s Big Bend region, where the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts landfall as a strong tropical storm Monday morning.
The area is still recovering from the devastating passage of Category 3 Hurricane Idalia last August.
Other alerts warning of Tropical Depression Debby conditions during the next 48 hours cover the entire west coast of Florida south of Big Bend and include Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples.
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Tropical Depression Debby grows stronger
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Depression Four has maintained its strength, with sustained winds of 56 km/h at its center.
However, as of the latest 2 PM update, the depression is beginning to move into the Gulf of Mexico, which is acting as fuel for further strengthening.
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are approaching record highs, currently above 30°C. Some water temperatures are even approaching 32°C offshore Tampa Bay.
This will act as fuel to organize and strengthen Tropical Depression Four over the next 24 hours.
A Tropical Depression Debby warning was also added for the Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge westward.
As it moves toward the Big Bend region of Florida, the system will pass over warm waters and continue to strengthen, and is likely to reach near or at hurricane strength as it moves north of the Gulf Coast on Sunday.
The primary threat from this system will be flooding from both storm surge and heavy rainfall.
Widespread rainfall totals of 155 to 300 millimeters will likely result in flash and urban flooding across portions of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as the storm passes through.
