Hurricane Warning Issued For Part Of Florida's Coast | Weather.com (2024)

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to be a hurricane before landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday, but its legacy might instead be flooding across the Southeast.

Flooding rainfall, gusty winds and coastal flooding from this system will spread across the Florida Peninsula over the weekend, and then along the Southeast coast early in the coming week, where it could slow down or even stall, prolonging impacts.

(​MAPS: Spaghetti Models And More)

H​ere's where watches and warnings are in effect: A hurricane warning is now in effect for the Florida Gulf coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River.

A hurricane watch is in effect west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass and from east of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown. Tropical storm warnings and watches cover the rest of western Florida, from the Keys to north of Tampa Bay and the central Panhandle region.

A storm surge warning has also been issued in the Florida Big Bend from Aripeka northward to the Indian Pass. A storm surge watch continues southward from that area to Bonita Beach and northward to Aripeka. This includes Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Life-threatening storm surge is possible in this area.

Here's where the tropical storm is now. Tropical Storm Debby is currently centered west of southern Florida and is traveling northwestward. Some of its bands of rain are spreading across the Florida peninsula. A few thunderstorms have been severe.

W​ind gusts have topped 45 mph throughout the Florida Keys on and off through Saturday.

Here's the latest projected path and intensity forecast. T​he latest National Hurricane Center forecast shows this system heading toward a landfall in Florida's Big Bend region on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, but they note that Debby could rapidly intensify over the warmest waters in all of the Atlantic Basin. It would be wise to prepare for a category higher than currently indicated.

It's important to note that impacts from this system will be felt across much of the Florida Peninsula and well inland, and not just where the system makes landfall and that water is likely to have a bigger impact than the wind.

After reaching the Florida coast, Debby is forecast to track toward the Southeast coast by Tuesday or Wednesday, where it could intensify again assuming it remains over water. T​here is an increasing possibility this system might slow down or even stall somewhere near the Southeast coast, which could prolong impacts, especially flooding rain.

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B​reaking Down The Impacts

F​looding Rainfall

The system is likely to bring rainfall to Florida this weekend. Heavy rain could linger in Florida early in the week ahead while also spreading up through eastern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas. That means flash flooding and river flooding are possible in all of those areas. These bands of rain will bring heavy downpours and gusty winds.

As Debby slows down or stalls, it will prolong impacts near the Southeast coast and somewhat inland – particularly heavy rain. The slower a tropical system moves, the greater the rainfall. A study released last year by the NHC found rainfall flooding was responsible for the most direct U.S. deaths from tropical storms and hurricanes since 2013.

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S​torm Surge

Coastal flooding from storm surge is possible on the western coast of Florida this weekend.

The surge could reach 6 to 10 feet above normal tide levels if the peak surge arrives at high tide in Florida's Big Bend. Most other areas could see a storm surge of 2 to 6 feet, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

Eventually, coastal flooding could affect the Southeast coast early next week, but it’s too early for details.

W​ind And Tornado Threats

M​uch of the Florida Peninsula will see gusty winds at times this weekend, especially in heavier bands of rain. These winds will arrive during the day on Sunday from south to north along Florida's Gulf Coast. The times on the map below are indicative of when you should have all preparations complete.

S​tronger wind gusts will cause power outages or tree damage, especially near and inland from where the eventual center of the system tracks.

T​he Southeast coast is likely to be affected by strong winds early in the week ahead. They will first arrive in northeast Florida by Monday morning, then slowly spread northward.

T​here is also the possibility of an isolated tornado threat in Florida this weekend.

Be sure to check back frequently to weather.com and The Weather Channel app for forecast updates in the days ahead.

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