AccuWeather meteorologists warn that Tropical Storm Debby is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane later today, posing a significant threat of catastrophic flooding in the Southeast United States. The storm is predicted to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday, with a potentially deadly storm surge of 10 to 15 feet, and then move slowly across the region, dumping torrential rain.
AccuWeather has upgraded Debby to a 3 on its RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes, indicating the potential for widespread flooding, structural damage, and power outages. The storm could even reach a 4 or higher if it intensifies further or stalls along the coast.
Read: Flooding Forces Closure of Bayshore Blvd. In Tampa
“The flooding threat from Debby could lead to a life-threatening and catastrophic disaster in communities across the Southeast if this storm slows down or stalls out,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “The combination of relentless, heavy rain and a persistent onshore flow could prevent rivers and waterways from draining into the Atlantic, worsening the flooding impacts. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security that Debby is presently rated as a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. There are many cases, such as Florence in 2018, where a Category 1 hurricane or tropical storm caused catastrophic flooding.”
The storm’s path is expected to bring 8-12 inches of rainfall and wind gusts up to 100 mph to the landfall zone, with the potential for even higher amounts. Embedded tornadoes are also a risk in Florida today, along with dangerous surf and rip currents at beaches.
Read: St. Petersburg Issues Storm Closures And Safety Tips For Tropical Storm Debby
“This area is very prone to storm surge, especially in the bays and inlets along the Florida Gulf Coast,” warned AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. “The shape of the coastline is like a bowl in the Big Bend area. Debby is expected to push a lot of water into this area as it makes landfall. We’re concerned about a potentially deadly storm surge of 10 to 15 feet of water, especially if this storm approaches the coast near high tide.”
After impacting Florida, Debby is forecast to track across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia, stalling off the Carolina coast.
This slow movement could result in extreme rainfall rates, leading to a historic flooding event in the Carolinas and across the Southeast. AccuWeather predicts up to 24 inches of rain in parts of eastern Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, with a potential for up to 32 inches in some areas.
“As soon as Debby moves off the Carolina coast, we’re expecting this storm to stall and produce rainfall rates on the order of 1 to 3 inches of rain per hour, which can create dangerous and potentially catastrophic flooding,” warned DaSilva. “We are concerned about a potentially historic flooding event in the Carolinas and across the Southeast.”
Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Warns Of “Major Storm” Statewide Flooding As Tropical Storm Debby Approaches
Residents in the affected areas are urged to prepare for potential flooding, power outages, and other hazards. Travel disruptions are also expected, with hundreds of flights already canceled.
“We are very concerned about a life-threatening and potentially historic flooding event with staggering rainfall totals that could be measured in feet, not inches,” warned DePodwin. “Do not let your guard down, even though Debby is expected to be a tropical storm off the southeast coast. The rainfall totals and flooding potential are expected to be extreme and life-threatening.”
Read: Tornado Watch Issued For 15 Florida Counties, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, And Pinellas Included
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