Debby becomes Category 1 hurricane ahead of expected landfall in Florida
TAMPA, Fla. - The National Hurricane Center says Debby strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday night, with a landfall expected in the Florida Big Bend area on Monday.
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties until 5 a.m. on Monday.
A tornado watch has been issued for Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota Counties until 6 a.m. on Monday.
As of 11 p.m., the storm was located at 28.6N and 84.0W with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
Hurricane Debby is expected to produce hurricane conditions on Monday in the Big Bend area where a hurricane warning is in effect, but tropical storm conditions began Sunday evening.
Watches and Warnings
A storm surge warning is in effect for the Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay, and from the mouth of the Saint Mary's River to South Santee River, South Carolina.
A storm surge watch is in effect for the Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to the middle of Longboat Key, including Charlotte Harbor.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida coast from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass, along with the Valdosta area in south Georgia.
A hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Bonita Beach, Florida coast from west of Indian Pass to the Okaloosa-Walton County line, Ponte Vedre Beach to the Savannah River. Areas of south Georgia are also under a tropical storm warning.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Savannah River to South Santee River, South Carolina, along with the Albany area in southwest Georgia.
Hurricane Debby is expected to bring heavy rainfall as well as flash and urban flooding to portions of northern Florida. The National Hurricane Center says the storm will also likely bring potentially historic flooding to Southeast Georgia and South Carolina through Friday morning.
Timeline
FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto says Debby will continue to strengthen into early Monday as it moves through very warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
Impacts were felt throughout the Bay Area on Sunday and are expected to continue through Monday.
Dellegatto said the storm will take a turn to the northeast before making landfall early Monday in the Big Bend area, likely as a Category 1 hurricane.
Thousands of power outages are also being reported statewide. Video from Carrollwood shows a live power line down on Sunday afternoon.
Hurricane Debby evacuations
In preparation for Debby, Citrus County issued a mandatory evacuation for residents living in Zone A, and a voluntary evacuation has also been declared for all low-lying areas and anyone residing in campers, tents, mobile homes, manufactured homes, or any structure not capable of withstanding sustained winds up to 60 MPH.
On Saturday, Hernando County also announced voluntary evacuations for Zone A.
Several Bay Area municipalities also opened shelters for those who need a place to weather the storm as coastal businesses spent Saturday preparing for a storm surge.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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