By: Chloe Ong

Hurricane Debby intensified rapidly into a hurricane on Sunday night, just hours before meteorologists forecasted it to make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend coast early Monday morning. According to the New York Times, forcastors claimed the storm was expected to bring severe “catastrophic flooding” and heavy rainfall to the Southeast region throughout the week.

Authorities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have activated emergency response measures, set up temporary shelters, and advised residents in vulnerable coastal areas to evacuate as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted Debby to deliver a dangerous storm surge.

Key Details About Hurricane Debby:

Initially a tropical storm, Debby had strengthened into a hurricane with winds reaching 80 miles per hour by Sunday night. It was projected to make landfall early Monday.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast, and tropical storm and storm surge warnings have been issued by the NHC for the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Forecasters anticipate storm surges of up to 10 feet in some areas. “This is a life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center warned on Sunday.

Tornadoes are also a potential hazard through Monday morning in Florida and parts of southern Georgia as the storm approaches.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has activated about 3,000 National Guard members to aid in the storm response. Fifteen counties in Florida have issued evacuation orders, either voluntary or mandatory, affecting thousands of residents in areas prone to storm surges and major flooding. Officials are advising residents to comply with evacuation orders and prepare for potential power outages. In Hernando County, north of Tampa, voluntary evacuations began Saturday night, and officials have converted a local school into a shelter.

The National Weather Service has indicated that Tampa and other parts of the Florida Gulf Coast will face a life-threatening storm surge.

According to Governor DeSantis, once Debby makes landfall, the primary concern will be its heavy rainfall rather than its winds. The storm is then expected to move across southern Georgia from Monday into Tuesday.

Forecasters predict that Debby will bring between six and twelve inches of rain to parts of Florida throughout the week. Georgia and South Carolina could potentially receive 10 to 20 inches, and up to 30 inches in some areas by Friday.

You can get live updates here.

The storm is expected to reach Georgia early Tuesday. Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp declared a state of emergency in Georgia on Saturday, while South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster also declared a state of emergency and urged residents to take necessary precautions.

Debby is also expected to hit the Florida Panhandle as a hurricane early Monday. The forecast includes a storm flood ranging from about five to ten feet, with hurricane-force winds affecting areas near the storm’s center and damaging winds extending further out.

Hurricane Debby’s impact reminds us of Hurricane Idalia, which struck the same region last year as a Category 3 storm, causing a storm surge of up to 12 feet and marking the strongest storm to ever impact Florida’s Big Bend region.

“If you have been asked to evacuate by your local officials and you live in one of those storm surge evacuation zones, you still have time to get to a safe place,” Mr. Brennan said.

He also cautioned about the possibility of “catastrophic flooding” from heavy rains along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina from Tuesday into Wednesday.

In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an “above normal” Atlantic hurricane season for 2024, forecasting 17 to 25 named storms. Debby is the fourth named storm of the season.

The season’s first storm, Alberto, hit the coast of Mexico as a tropical storm, resulting in at least four deaths. It was followed by Beryl, which became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, and caused significant devastation in the Caribbean before hitting Texas. Tropical Storm Chris, the third named storm, made landfall in Mexico later in July.