The National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Depression 4 to Tropical Storm Debby Saturday evening.
As Debby continues to move into the Eastern Gulf, it will be in an area favorable for development, helping the storm become more organized.
Landfall as a Category 1 hurricane is possible in the Big Bend of Florida on Monday afternoon. However, impacts will be felt throughout Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas next week.
There are now storm surge watches and warnings extending across the western side of the Florida coast. Tampa Bay can expect 2 to 4 feet of storm surge, while Cedar Key could experience a storm surge greater than 6 feet.
Remember, the forecast cone shows us the forecast for the center of the tropical system. Often storms are very large which means we can see rain bands far away from the center. This means even locations near the cone will likely feel impacts.
Tropical storm warnings are in place for portions of the west coast of Florida, including Tallahassee, Apalachicola, Tampa, and Naples. A Tropical storm watch was issued farther inland, including Arcadia, Fort Meade, Live Oak, and even Valdosta, Georgia.
Florida, SE Georgia, and the coastal Carolinas can expect to see heavy rainfall from this storm starting Sunday and lasting through Thursday of next week.
Debby has the potential to slow down once it moves inland. It is possible portions of coastal North and South Carolina could see 6-12″ through the middle of next week.
Stay up to date with the latest forecast using our KPRC 2 Hurricane Tracker app.
