TALLAHASSEE, Fla. − Tropical Storm Debby was growing stronger Sunday and churning closer to an expected Gulf Coast landfall Monday as a hurricane driving life-threatening storm surgeand rain totals that could reach 30 inches in parts of the Southeast by week's end.
"This potentially historic rainfall may result in areas of catastrophic flooding," Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center, wrote in a public advisory that warned of a "life-threatening situation."
Floridians were bracing for the state's first hurricane strike this year in a season that forecasters say could become one of the worst on record. Mandatory evacuations were being ordered ahead of Debby in parts of multiple counties. Leon County, home to Tallahassee, wasopening up six sheltersin schools around the county.
A lack of strong steering currents in the atmosphere means Debby will take a slow, soaking stroll after a Florida landfall through the Southeast, making it a multi-state threat. “After landfall, it’s going to slow to a crawl,” Michael Brennan, hurricane center director, said Sunday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard were activated to support humanitarian assistance and search and rescue missions. He warned that hazards such as strong winds, storm surge and tornadoes can occur before landfall, even outside the forecasted "cone." Sustained winds could reach up to 95 mph, he said
President Joe Biden declared an emergency across Florida, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts for the "purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population."
Developments:
∎ The National Weather Services has issued a series of flash flood warnings. Warnings are in effect for Manatee and Western Sarasota counties until 9:30 p.m.; Northwestern Hillsborough, Southwestern Pasco and Pinellas have warnings in effect until 9:15 p.m.
∎ Nearly 2,000 flights had been canceled and close to 6,300 were delayed as of 5 p.m. ET, according to flight tracking siteFlightAware. American Airlines and JetBlue saw the highest cancellation numbers among major carriers, both scrapping 17% of their schedules.
∎ Carnival Cruise Line’sCarnival Elation rescheduled its return to Jacksonville for Sunday, rather than Monday as planned. The ship departed from the Florida city for a Bahamas cruise on Thursday,according to CruiseMapper.
∎ Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky ship changed course, as well, visiting Nassau in place of Great Stirrup Cay on Sunday. The vessel, which left from Miami on Friday, also skipped a planned stop in Key West on Saturday, remaining at sea instead. "As always, the health and safety of our guests and crew remains a top priority," the cruise line said in an emailed statement.
∎ South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon ahead of any potential impact by Debby. He warned that heavy rainfall early in the week could bring flash foods and that residents should begin storm preparations immediately.
∎ The number of power outages reported throughout Florida climbed to over 51,000 by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to USA TODAY's outage tracker.Significant outages were reported in Gadsden, Taylor, and Levy counties.
More than 1,500 US flights canceled:Cruises also impacted as Tropical Storm Debby looms
Debby aims for Florida's Big Bend
Debby, which formed Saturday and became the fourth named storm of the season, was centered about 120 miles west of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, with stronger gusts. The storm, fueled by warm waters of the Gulf, was moving northward at about 12 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the storm’s center.
The hurricane center forecasts landfall Monday around midday in Florida’s Big Bend − where the state's panhandle meets its peninsula − somewhere between the Suwannee River south of Tallahassee and the Ochlockonee River in the Panhandle west of Tallahassee.
Debby will make landfall with a maximum sustained winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour, according to AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin.
Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for the area west of the Ochlockonee River as far as Indian Pass at 5 p.m. Sunday; and issued tropical storm warnings for the area west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach, Florida, and for the Florida and Georgia coast from Ponte Verde Beach to the Savannah River.
The area between the Suwanee and Ochlockonee Rivers could flood with up to 10 feet of water, the hurricane center reported. Accuweather forecasted even greater surges for the Big Ben region of up to 15 feet.
Road closures in Florida due to flooding
Officials across Southwest Florida began reporting roads closed due to flooding Sunday afternoon ahead of Debby’s expected landfall Monday.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County deployed the agency's "swamp buggy," a 5,000-pound vehicle that can move through waters up to four feet deep to pick up people stranded by the storm, according to public information officer Todd Olmer.
Marceno said roads throughout Fort Myers Beach were flooded.
Sarasota County officials warned that several roads in the area were shut down due to flooding. The North Casey Key Road was closed, leaving residents unable to get on or off the key; erosion caused by the storm undermined roads leading into Caspersen Beach near the city of Venice; and rocks used for shoreline stabilization were washed onto the Manasota Key Road by flooding that left the area underwater.
Sandra Tapfumaneyi, chief of the county’s Emergency Management Agency, urged residents to stay home, call 311 for help and, if on the road, "turn around, don’t drown."
What makes Debby so dangerous?
Debby is big and slow, making the storm particularly dangerous, especially along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. The size and increase in the wind speed as Debby gets organized and potentially becomes a hurricane creates a high risk of life-threatening storm surges along the Florida coast early Monday. The surge will be the highest where the storm crosses the coast.
The hurricane center is forecasting that Debby could rapidly intensify, which could put its winds as high as 90 mph at landfall. That could help push a wall of water 6-10 feet above ground level. The higher level would occur if the storm approaches at high tide.
Clouds ahead of the storm already were reaching across much of Florida on Sunday, and the storm’s center is forecast to move near Savannah on Tuesday night and drag along the South Carolina Coast on Thursday night.
"Multiple days of very, very heavy rainfall" are possible, Brennan said.
The National Weather Service estimates rainfall totals could reach up to 30 inches or more in isolated locations along the coast through Friday. The weather service office in Charleston, South Carolina, called it a "potentially historic rainfall."
Mayor warns residents: Don't rely on first responders
The storm arrived less than three months after a tornado outbreak that brought widespread destruction to Tallahassee. Mayor JohnDaileysaid mutual-aid workers were arriving later in the day from Louisiana and Alabama to help with power restoration and that other crews were ready to respond from across Florida.
“Downed trees are expected,”Daileysaid. “Power outages are expected. Localized flooding is expected. Please prepare your household, knowing that there could be a time when firstresponderscannot reach you.”
− Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat
Storm could trigger tornadoes in Florida, Georgia
A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Bend region, according to the National Weather Service. That warning stretches west along the Gulf Coast toward the Ochlockonee River. A storm surge warning was issued from Longboat Key to Tampa Bay.
A few tornadoes are possible through Monday morning, mainly over western and northern Florida and southern Georgia, the hurricane center said.
Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the Gulf coast of Florida through Monday, reach the Southeast U.S. coast on Monday, and continue through the middle of the week.
"These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," Pasch warned.
A stormy season:Forecasters raise hurricane season prediction after record-breaking Beryl
Debby brought flooding to Puerto Rico
Debby formed in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico after moving westward as a tropical rainstorm during the week. The storm dropped heavy rain over Hispaniola and parts of the Bahamas, and causing flooding in Puerto Rico.
Tropical Storm Debby tracker
Spaghetti models: Where Tropical Storm Debby could make landfall
Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, and the most activity usually happens between mid-August and mid-October, according to the hurricane center.
Contributing: Nathan Diller, Gabe Hauari, Doyle Rice, Anthony Robledo, and Jeanine Santucci of USA TODAY; Kim Luciani and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida.
