Photo: NOAA
(Miami, FL) -- Southwest Florida is getting hit with heavy rain as Tropical Storm Debby intensifies over the Gulf Coast. Debby is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle Monday morning as a Category One hurricane with 75-mile-an-hour winds. The National Hurricane Center is calling it a life-threatening situation and is warning of storm surge and flooding.
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 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Continued 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.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Florida coast from Aripeka northward to Indian Pass
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to Aripeka, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor
* Georgia coast from Mouth of the St. Mary's River to Altamaha Sound
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...
* The Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge including the 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...
* The Florida Keys north of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge
* Florida coast west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
* Georgia coast from the Mouth of St. Mary's River to Altamaha Sound