Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida in the Florida Big Bend area as a Category 1 hurricane around 7 a.m. Monday.
Sustained winds were 80 mph, making Debby a Category 1 hurricane at the time of landfall. Landfall came less than 12 hours after Debby strengthened from a tropical storm into a hurricane
Although winds had already dropped to 75 mph by 8 a.m., forecasters warned life-threatening storm surge and "potentially catastrophic rainfall" are expected before Debby finishes with Florida and as it heads toward Georgia and the Carolinas.
Debby is expected to bring 6 to 12 inches of rain to Florida, with some areas seeing up to 18 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Across portions of southeast Georgia, the coastal plain of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina, 10 to 20 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 30 inches, are expected through Saturday morning.
"Rainfall across this zone may contend with or surpass those historic, 100-year values if even around a foot of rain falls within 72 hours," AccuWeather said. Forecasters there predicted rainfall in the Southeast could hit 32 inches in some areas.
A state of emergency is in effect for 61 of Florida's 67 counties.
➤ Live updates: Get the latest on Debby as it approaches Florida
➤ Power outages: Number of customers without electricity increasing around Florida
Where is Hurricane Debby?
- Location: 60 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key
- Maximum sustained winds: 75 mph
- Movement: north-northeast at 10 mph
- Next advisory: 11 a.m.
Hurricane Debby makes landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida
At 8 a.m, the center of Hurricane Debby was located near latitude 29.9 North, longitude 83.4 West.
Debby is moving toward the north-northeast near 10 mph. A gradual decrease in forward speed with a turn toward the northeast and east is expected later today and Tuesday.
On the forecast track, the center will slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia today and Tuesday, and be near the Georgia coast by Tuesday night.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph, with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected as Debby moves over land today and tonight.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
A wind gust to 62 mph was reported at Madison County High School within the last hour.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 979 mb.
What to expect from Debby:A Florida city-by-city impact breakdown
Spaghetti models: Latest forecasts on where Hurricane Debby is heading now
Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Hurricane, storm surge, tropical storm warnings issued
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
- Florida coast from the Yankeetown to Indian Pass
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
- Florida coast south of Yankeetown to Boca Grande
- Florida coast from west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
- St. Augustine to South Santee River South Carolina
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A storm surge warning is in effect for:
- Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass including Tampa Bay
- Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
Potential impacts from Hurricane Debby
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area for the next few hours. Tropical storm conditions will continue over portions of the tropical storm warning area along the Florida Gulf Coast through the morning, and begin along portions of the tropical storm warning area along the Atlantic coast by this evening. Tropical storm conditions are expected along the coast of South Carolina within the tropical storm warning area by late tonight.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:
- Yankeetown, FL to Aucilla River, FL...6-10 ft
- Chassahowitzka, FL to Yankeetown, FL...4-6 ft
- Aucilla River, FL to Ochlockonee River, FL...4-6 ft
- Ochlockonee River, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft
- Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...3-5 ft Tampa Bay...3-5 ft
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River, SC...2-4 ft
RAINFALL: Debby is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, across portions of central and northern Florida as well as central and northeast North Carolina through Saturday morning. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with significant river flooding expected.
Across portions of southeast Georgia, the coastal plain of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina, 10 to 20 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 30 inches, are expected through Saturday morning. This potentially historic rainfall will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible over central and northern Florida and southeastern Georgia today. The threat will spread northeastward into parts of South Carolina later today and tonight.
SURF: Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the Gulf coast of Florida through tonight. Swells will begin to affect the Southeast U.S. coast later today and continue through the middle of the week. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Key messages on what Florida, US can expect from Hurricane Debby
- Potentially historic heavy rainfall across southeast Georgia and the coastal plain of South Carolina through Saturday morning will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding. Heavy rainfall will likely result in considerable flooding impacts from portions of central and northern Florida and across portions of central and northeast North Carolina through Saturday morning.
- There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Gulf Coast of Florida, with 6 to 10 feet of inundation above ground level expected somewhere between Ochlockonee River to Yankeetown through the morning. Residents in the Storm Surge Warning area should follow any advice given by local officials.
- Hurricane conditions are expected this morning along portions of the Florida Big Bend region where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue for several more hours farther south within the Tropical Storm Warning area along Florida's west coast, including the Tampa Bay area.
- Dangerous storm surge and wind impacts are expected along portions of the southeast U.S. coast from northeastern Florida to North Carolina through the middle of the week, and storm surge warnings and tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect for portions of these areas.
Current forecast: How strong could Hurricane Debby get?
As of the 8 a.m. advisory:
- Initial: 80 mph
- 12 hours: 65 mph
- 24 hours: 50 mph
- 36 hours: 50 mph
- 48 hours: 50 mph
- 60 hours: 50 mph
- 72 hours: 60 mph
- 96 hours: 45 mph
- 120 hours: 35 mph
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
Major flooding expected in Florida: Excessive rainfall forecast
River flooding: Real-time Florida river water levels
Florida Gov. DeSantis issues state of emergency for 61 counties
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Thursday for 54 counties in preparationfor the potential landfall of a stormthat could become the first "significant threat" to the state.
Friday night, he added another seven counties. That brings 61 of the state's 67 counties under a state of emergency.
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
What's next?
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