TAMPA, Florida — The center of Hurricane Debby is expected to hit the coast of Big Bend, Florida, Monday morning, bringing record-breaking rainfall, catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge. The hurricane will slowly move across the northern part of the state before stalling over the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina.
Debby was located about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The storm was moving north at 12 mph (19 km/h), the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Sunday night.
Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, and Tropical Storm Chris, all of which formed in June.
Meteorologists warn that Debby’s heavy rainfall could cause catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.
The storm was expected to make landfall Monday afternoon in Florida’s Big Bend area, about 16 miles (26 kilometers) south of Tampa, the hurricane center said. A tornado watch was also in effect for parts of Florida and Georgia until 6 a.m. Monday.
“Right now we’re trying to secure everything from floating away,” said Sheryl Horne, whose family owns the Shell Island Fish Camp along the Wakulla River in St. Marks, Florida, where some customers moved their boats inland.
The sparsely populated Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle was also hit last year by Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane.
“I’m used to storms and I’m used to cleaning up after storms,” Horne said.
Debby was expected to move eastward across northern Florida and then stall over coastal Georgia and South Carolina. Starting Tuesday, the region was expected to experience record-breaking rainfall totals of 30 inches (76 centimeters).
Officials also warned of life-threatening storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with 6 to 10 feet of flooding expected between the Ochlockonee and Suwannee rivers on Monday.
“We’re seeing some really amazing rainfall totals, and amazing in a bad way,” Michael Brennan, director of the hurricane center, said at a briefing. “That would be record-breaking rainfall associated with a tropical cyclone for both Georgia and South Carolina if we were to reach 30 inches.”
Flooding effects could continue through Friday and are expected to be especially severe in low-lying areas near the coast, including Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina. Officials in North Carolina were monitoring the storm’s progress.
Officials in Savannah said the area could see a month’s worth of rainfall within four days if the system remains over the region.
“This is going to be a huge storm. The word historic cannot be overstated here,” Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson said at a news conference.
Debby’s outer bands grazed Florida’s west coast, flooding streets and causing power outages. Sarasota County officials said most roads on Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota, were underwater. The hurricane center had predicted the system would strengthen as it veered off Florida’s southwest coast, where waters were extremely warm.
During a briefing Sunday afternoon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned that the storm could lead to “really, really significant flooding that will occur in north-central Florida.”
The storm would follow a similar track to Hurricane Idalia, but would be “much wetter. We’re going to see a lot more flooding,” he said.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Big Bend and Florida Panhandle areas, while tropical storm warnings were issued for Florida’s West Coast, the southern Florida Keys, and Dry Tortugas. A tropical storm warning extended further west into the Panhandle.
Tropical storms and hurricanes could cause river flooding and overload drainage systems and canals. Forecasters warned of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain, and up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in isolated areas of Florida.
In flat Florida, even on sunny days, there is a risk of flooding. The storm is forecast to produce a 2- to 4-foot (0.6-1.2 m) surge along most of the Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay, with a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2.1 m) farther north in the Big Bend region.
Forecasters warned of “a risk of life-threatening storm surge flooding” in a region that includes Hernando Beach, Crystal River, Steinhatchee and Cedar Key. Officials in Citrus and Levy counties ordered mandatory evacuations of coastal areas, while those in Hernando, Manatee, Pasco and Taylor counties called for voluntary evacuations. Shelters were opened in those and several other counties.
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast estimates 21,000 people live in his county’s evacuation zone.
Residents of Steinhatchee, Florida, which was hit by flooding after Hurricane Idalia, were busy moving belongings to higher ground on Sunday.
“I’ve been here 29 years. This isn’t the first time I’ve done it. Do you get used to it? No,” said Mark Reblin as he took supplies out of the liquor store he owns.
Workers at Savannah Canoe and Kayak in Georgia said they were busy tying down their vessels, laying down sandbags and lifting equipment off the ground. Mayme Bouy, the store manager, said she wasn’t too worried about the forecast of a potential historic rainstorm.
“But we do have some high tides this week, so if it rains then it could be bad,” Bouy added. “I’d rather play it safe than sorry.”
DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, activating 3,000 National Guard members. Utility companies from inside and outside the state were standing by to help restore power after the storm, he said in a message on X.
In Tampa alone, authorities distributed more than 30,000 sandbags as flood barriers.
“Our storm drains have been cleared. Our generators are all checked and full. We are doing everything we need to do to be prepared for a tropical storm,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster have declared their own states of emergency.
Emergency managers in New England and New York were monitoring the storm’s path for the possibility of remnants hitting their states. Northeastern states, including New York and Vermont, have been battered by heavy rains and thunderstorms in recent weeks and are still dealing with flooding and saturated ground.
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Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Jake Offenhartz contributed from New York.