The National Hurricane Center is reporting Tropical Depression Four has strengthened into Tropical Storm Debby as it begins moving northward through the Florida Keys. The latest National Hurricane Center forecast has the system making a landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near the Big Bend area of Florida Monday afternoon. Some locations in North Florida could receive up to 12 inches of rainfall.
"Debby is moving into the warmest water in the Gulf of Mexico where sea surface temperatures are close to 90 degrees. The center of Debby is likely to stay offshore in this warm water all weekend. People across north and central Florida should prepare for some flash flooding and isolated tornadoes Sunday through Tuesday," says Florida Public Radio Emergency Network Meteorologist William Maxham.
Hurricane Warnings and Watches
A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the Florida Big Bend coast east of the Ochlockonee River and extended inland to Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Lafayette, and Dixie Counties.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the coast between the Ochlockonee River west to Indian Pass and inland for Franklin, Wakulla, and Leon Counties. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the coast between the Ochlockonee River and Indian Pass.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the coast between Indian Pass west to Mexico Beach and inland Gulf, Liberty, Gadsden, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, and Lowndes Counties.
School Closures
Several schools have announced plans to close Monday, August 5. They are as follows:
K-12 School Closures
- Citrus County School District
- Dixie County School District
- Jefferson County School District
- Madison County School District
State University Closures
- Florida A&M University
- Florida State University
Florida College System Closures
- Tallahassee State College
- Florida Gateway College
- North Florida College
