JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As of the 8 p.m. National Hurricane Center update, Tropical Storm Debby is still strengthening as it’s expected to become a hurricane Sunday night and make landfall in the Florida Big Bend area on Monday.
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A Tornado Watch until Monday at 6 a.m. has been issued for all Northeast Florida counties, while a Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Southeast Georgia and our western counties of Northeast Florida. Thunderstorms are starting to pop up in our southern counties, as well.
The storm is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane Sunday night before reaching the Big Bend of Florida.
Max winds are 65 mph with higher gusts; rainfall amounts could be 6-12 inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches through Friday morning. The storm is expected to strengthen Sunday and into Monday.
If the current path holds, the biggest impact for Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia will be Monday and early Tuesday morning.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia counties until further notice.
Most of our area is also under a Flood Watch beginning at 1 p.m.
St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Clay counties are currently not being placed under the Flood Watch.
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The main hazards will be bands of showers, thunderstorms, and windy conditions with gusts up to 40-50 mph. An isolated tornado is certainly possible given the conditions.
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Watches and Warnings in effect:
Hurricane Warning: In effect for the Florida Gulf Coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River
Hurricane Watch: In effect for Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass and Florida coast east of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown
Tornado Watch: In effect for Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union counties until 6 a.m. Sunday. This Watch is also in effect for Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Ware and Echols counties in Georgia, and coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine.
Tropical Storm Warning: In effect for Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Bonita Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach to the Savannah River, and Florida coast from west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach. These Warnings are also in effect for Columbia, Union, Bradford, Alachua, Baker, Duval, and Nassau counties.
Storm Surge Watch: In effect Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to the middle of Longboat Key, including Charlotte Harbor
Storm Surge Warning: In effect for Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass including Tampa Bay, and Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River South Carolina