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Debby to be Hurricane when it hits Florida.

Florida's Gulf Coast is directly in Tropical Storm Debby's path. It's expected to intensify into a hurricane before it makes landfall Sunday or Monday.

Published August 4, 2024 at 4:12am by Mike Snider

Tropical Storm Debby to Hit Florida Gulf Coast as a Hurricane

Tropical Storm Debby, which formed Saturday, is expected to become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast late Sunday or early Monday. Debby is currently moving northward, with sustained winds of 45 mph, and is forecast to turn northeastward, strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Big Bend region, with a storm surge warning along the central Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts flash flooding and heavy rains across the southeast, with peak storm surges of 4-7 feet.

Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to cause flash flooding and heavy rain from Georgia to North Carolina through Thursday.

The season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, with a peak on Sept. 10.

"This is just the beginning. We could be in for a very active hurricane season," said one NWS official, who warned residents to "prepare for the worst."