AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tropical Storm Debby forms in the Gulf of Mexico Saturday afternoon (4 P.M. Advisory). Debby is the fourth named storm in the Atlantic Basin for the 2024 Hurricane Season.
Florida prepares for impact
Maximum sustained winds at the moment are 40 mph with the storm moving to the NW at 15 mph. Tropical Storm Debby is expected to reach hurricane status sometime Sunday night into early Monday morning before making landfall.
The main concerns with Debby are storm surge, high wind gusts, coastal flooding, and excessive rainfall.
Hurricane Warnings in effect
Hurricane Warnings and Tropical Storm Warnings are currently in effect along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
How much rain is expected?
The storm is expected to progressively slow down over parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolina’s. This will increase rainfall totals substantially, resulting in up to a foot of rain in some spots.
In-Depth: Fuel for the storm
All eyes will be on the strength of the storm as it travels through very warm waters. Normally a storm would only need sea surface temperatures to reach 80 degrees to be considered favorable for a storm to develop, however above normal temperatures have been recorded. A few stations in the gulf have recorded up to 89° which is just above the average for this time of year. Mix in low wind sheer and you have the perfect recipe for a storm to strengthen and quickly.
We are also approaching when storms begin to form more frequently with mid-August starting the peak of hurricane season and lasting through mid-October
