ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Debby continues to make its way through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to rapidly strengthen into a hurricane before reaching the Florida coast.
As of 8 p.m., Debby was located 100 miles west of Tampa and 90 miles southwest of Cedar Key with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph. The storm is heading north at 12 mph.
Debby is expected to become a hurricane by Sunday night, with additional strengthening likely before it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast on Monday.
In Central Florida, rounds of tropical downpours will arrive through Monday. And because we are on the “dirty side” of Debbie, there is a threat for tornadoes through early Monday.
Due to this threat, there is a slight risk (Level 2/5) for severe weather expected along with a 40-60% chance of tropical storm force wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph.
For more information on timing and threats, click here.
The worst weather is expected in Central Florida from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon. Click here for a county-by-county breakdown of impacts to expect.
Debby will move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia on Monday and Tuesday. It will then weaken after the storm moves inland.
The NHC also highlighted a new area in the Atlantic being monitored for development. That tropical wave has a 10% chance of developing into a tropical system in the next two days and a 20% chance in the next seven days.
Hurricane season runs through November.
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