Hurricane Debby Set to Unleash Catastrophic Flooding on Florida’s Gulf Coast

Hurricane Debby is expected to impact Florida's Gulf Coast by midday Monday, causing dangerous storm surges and catastrophic flooding. The storm, fueled by warm Gulf waters, could bring historic rainfall to Georgia and South Carolina. Florida's Governor has mobilized National Guard troops and ordered evacuations in high-risk areas.

Hurricane Debby is expected to slam into the Big Bend region of Florida's Gulf Coast by midday on Monday, causing potentially dangerous storm surges and catastrophic flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

By 11 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Debby had sustained winds of 75 mph, growing from a slow-moving tropical storm that gained strength from warm Gulf waters. The NHC forecasts life-threatening conditions with storm surges up to 10 feet in some areas.

As it moves north, the storm is predicted to bring between 10 and 20 inches of rain to Georgia and South Carolina, with local areas possibly seeing up to 30 inches by Friday morning. The slow motion of the storm is expected to result in historic rainfall and potentially catastrophic flooding.

Debby shares similarities with Hurricane Harvey, which caused significant flooding in Texas in 2017. Climate scientists suggest that man-made global warming has increased ocean temperatures, fueling stronger and more devastating storms. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has activated 3,000 National Guard troops, ordered evacuations, and prepared more than 17,000 linemen and electric workers to restore power.

Governors of Georgia and South Carolina have also declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. Debby is expected to lose strength after landfall but continue to bring heavy rain as it moves across central Florida and heads up the Atlantic coast toward Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

The last hurricane to hit the Big Bend region directly was Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. With more Atlantic hurricanes expected in the 2024 season, residents are urged to prepare for increased storm activity.

(With inputs from agencies.)