MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Debby is growing and so are threats to Floridians.
The latest (11 a.m. EDT) advisory adds a Storm Surge Warning from Aripeka in Pasco County down to Longboat Key. That area had previously been under a storm surge watch. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the Tampa Bay area, and now a tornado watch has been issued to include the west coast from Tallahassee to Naples, inland as far as Orlando, for this afternoon. It also includes parts of Northeast Florida and South Georgia.
Earlier Sunday morning, Governor DeSantis told Floridians and especially North Florida residents, to finish preparations. He says Big Bend and Tallahassee residents can expect power outages, and the area could also see as much as a foot or more of rain as Debby is expected to stall out over the southeast.
DeSantis says he has pre-staged resources to assist, including the state guard and up to three thousand Florida National Guard members. More than a hundred FDOT crews are standing by to remove road debris after the storm passes.
The state is also deploying supplies that include thousands of cases of water and ready-to-eat meals.
The full advisory is posted below, followed by the tornado watch
000
WTNT34 KNHC 041456
TCPAT4
BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Debby Advisory Number 9
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL042024
1100 AM EDT Sun Aug 04 2024
...DEBBY LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY BEFORE LANDFALL IN THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION...
...MAJOR FLOOD THREAT LOOMS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES...
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...27.0N 84.3W
ABOUT 130 MI...210 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 160 MI...260 KM SSW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB...29.30 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from the middle of Longboat
Key to Aripeka, Florida including Tampa Bay.
The Tropical Storm Warning for the Florida Keys east of the Dry
Tortugas is discontinued.
The Tropical Storm Watch for the Florida Keys north of the Seven
Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge is discontinued.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian
Pass including Tampa Bay
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to the middle of
Longboat Key, including Charlotte Harbor
* Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's
River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Florida coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass
* Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Dry Tortugas
* Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to East Cape Sable
* Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
* Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's
River to South Santee River South Carolina
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 means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before
the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds,
conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
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. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.
This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these
areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property
from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local
officials.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.
Interests elsewhere in Florida and the southeastern coast of the
United States should monitor the progress of this system.
Additional watches and warnings will likely be required later today.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Debby was
located near latitude 27.0 North, longitude 84.3 West. Debby is
moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn
toward the north is expected later today, followed by a slower
motion toward the northeast on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast
track, the center will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico
through tonight and reach the Florida Big Bend coast Monday morning.
Debby is then expected to move slowly across northern Florida and
southern Georgia Monday and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)
with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast, and Debby is
expected to become a hurricane by tonight before it reaches the
Florida Big Bend coast. Weakening is expected on Monday and Tuesday
after Debby moves inland.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.30 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Debby can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning
area and possible in the hurricane watch areas early Monday, with
tropical storm conditions expected to arrive this evening. Tropical
storm conditions are expected to spread northward over the tropical
storm warning areas through tonight. Tropical storm conditions are
possible in the watch area in the Florida Panhandle on Monday, and
along the coast of Georgia and South Carolina Monday night.
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...
Suwannee River to Ochlockonee River, FL...6-10 ft
Yankeetown, FL to Suwannee River, FL...4-7 ft
Ochlockonee River, FL to Indian Pass, FL...4-6 ft
Tampa Bay...3-5 ft
Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Yankeetown, FL...3-5 ft
Bonita Beach, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...2-4 ft
Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River, SC...2-4 ft
Charlotte Harbor...2-4 ft
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation,
please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge.
RAINFALL: Debby is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12
inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, across portions of
northern Florida through Friday morning. This rainfall will likely
result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with
significant river flooding expected.
Across portions of southeast Georgia and South Carolina, 10 to 20
inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 30 inches, are expected
through Friday morning. This potentially historic rainfall may
result in areas of catastrophic flooding.
For western Cuba, additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with
localized higher amounts, will be possible through today. This will
result in isolated to scattered areas of flooding.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding
associated with Tropical Storm Debby, please see the National
Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk
graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible through Monday morning,
mainly over western and northern Florida and southern Georgia.
SURF: Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the
Gulf coast of Florida through Monday. Swells will begin to affect
the Southeast U.S. coast on Monday and continue through the middle
of the week. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening
surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your
local weather office.
Tornado Watch from the US Storm Prediction Center:
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 594
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1055 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
Central and Northern Florida
Southern Georgia
Coastal Waters
* Effective this Sunday morning and evening from 1055 AM until
800 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes possible
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY...Thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage and
intensity within the outer bands of Tropical Storm Debby this
afternoon. As wind fields strengthen, the potential will exist for
a few tornadoes in the stronger cells.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
east and west of a line from 25 miles east northeast of Valdosta GA
to 20 miles southeast of Naples FL. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 0.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 14030.
Photo: NHC