Hurricane Debby, a major flood threat, nears landfall on Florida’s Big Bend
Hurricane Debby Debby neared landfall early Monday along Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds, “life-threatening” storm surge and flooding rain.
At 5 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said Debby was close to moving ashore north of Cedar Key as it begins a sweep across North Florida and the Southeast that is expected to dump more than a foot of rain in some areas — with the worst likely in Georgia and South Carolina. Power outages were spreading, with more than 100,000 customers already in the dark early Monday.
Dixie and Franklin and Levy counties were under evacuation orders on Sunday, and 61 of Florida’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency declaration. Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the state’s emergency operations center and urged residents to be ready for the storm. For South Florida, swept by outer bands on Sunday, it was all but over — with the worst felt along the Southwest coast. By mid-afternoon, parts of Fort Myers Beach were flooded with several feet of storm surge as Debby swept up the west coast.
“Our state agencies are prepared to respond quickly and efficiently,” he posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. “Remember that hazards such as strong winds, storm surge, and tornadoes can occur before landfall, even outside the forecasted “cone.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also said it has supplies and staff pre-positioned in Florida for a fast response after Debby makes landfall, “with more on the way.”
“Our distribution center in Atlanta is ready to mobilize,” FEMA spokeswoman Jaclyn Rothenberg posted on X.
The messy tropical storm got its act together overnight reaching hurricane strength as it picked up speed and formed a more defined center swirl as it fed on warm water and low wind shear.
“Given the favorable oceanic and shear conditions, significant strengthening is expected before landfall. Rapid intensification is especially likely if Debby acquires a well-defined inner core,” forecasters wrote in the 5 p.m. discussion.
A stronger Debby would up the risk of intense storm surge and high winds. The Tampa Bay area could see up to 5 feet of storm surge, which is how high the water could get above land, and the Big Bend area could see up to 10 feet.
The region, which was smacked by Category 3 Hurricane Idalia last August, remains under a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning.
Once Debby moves inland, it is expected to slow to a crawl and dump “historic” levels of rain on the southeast coast — up to 30 inches over Savannah in the next five days.
As 5 a.m. Debby was about 45 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, an uptick from the afternoon. It was traveling north-northwest at 12 mph.
