"TAMPA, Fla. — The center of Hurricane Debby is expected to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida early Monday bringing potential record-setting rains, catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge as it moves slowly across the northern part of the state before stalling over the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina.

Debby was located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (120 kph). The storm was moving northeast at 10 mph (17 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Forecasters warned heavy amounts of rain from Debby could spawn catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.

The storm was expected to make landfall Monday morning in the Big Bend area of Florida, north of Tampa, the hurricane center said. A tornado watch also was in effect for parts of Florida and Georgia on Monday."

Kimberly Chandler and Christopher O’Meara report for the Associated Press August 5, 2024. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Debby Forecast To Strike Florida As Hurricane, Unleash Severe Flooding In Southeast" (Washington Post) [3]

"Debby To Impact Georgia, Carolinas With Life-Threatening Flooding And Storm Surge This Week" (AccuWeather) [4]

"Hurricane Debby Path And Tracker: Debby 'Very Near' Landfall With 80 mph winds" (ABC News) [5]

"NHC Tracking Another Disturbance Behind Hurricane Debby" (WESH) [6]