HOUSTON — 8/4: This page will no longer be updated. For updates on what became Hurricane Debby, check here.
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The fourth named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season formed on Saturday.
Tropical Storm Debby is moving into the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and is already bringing tropical downpours into Florida. Debby is expected to rapidly strengthen to a hurricane prior to landfall in the Florida Big Bend region.
Expect the rain totals to climb through Tuesday. Weather forecast models are indicating that Debbie could stall bringing catastrophic rainfall to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Rainfall amounts are expected to range from 6-8" across north Florida. As the storm stalls near the Georgia coast, rainfall accumulations will range from 10-20" with some areas receiving close to 30".
Debby will not impact southeast Texas.
Futuretrack weather models are in agreement that Debby will make landfall as a category 1 hurricane Monday morning in and around the Florida Big Bend region. Areas along the immediate coast are forecasted to receive 6-10 ft. storm surge or water inundation.
The National Hurricane Center has highlighted another disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean just north of South America. This area has a 20% chance of development within the next seven days.
This is an important reminder that we’re entering the part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season that tropical activity picks up. While the statistical peak of the season is Sept. 10, activity typically increases mid August as it approaches the peak.
