JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While Tropical Storm Debby weakens and continues to move to the northeast at 7 mph, the Jacksonville International Airport reported a 51 mph gust around 7:30 p.m. on its path into Southeast Georgia. Models are backing off on the rain, gusty wind will continue overnight.
Overnight into Tuesday, we will be tracking Tropical Storm Debby as it slowly moves north. Tropical conditions are expected through the morning for coastal SE GA and the Golden Isles. Rain will slowly move away from our area during the late morning and afternoon. Wind will be 15-25 mph.
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Hurricane Debby’s eastern eyewall hit Dixie County on Monday morning, bringing gusts to 95 mph at Horseshoe Beach as the storm made landfall near Steinhatchee around 7 a.m.
As of the 11 p.m. National Hurricane Center update, the storm’s maximum sustained winds had dropped to 45 mph and it will continue to weaken as it moves inland. Additional weakening is forecast through late Tuesday.
According to the NHC, some re-strengthening is possible on Wednesday.
It could produce “catastrophic flooding in some locations.”
Debby, potentially a historic rainmaker, started pounding the Gulf Coast on Sunday, and more than 150,000 utility customers were without power Monday morning, including more than 25,000 Duke Energy Florida customers in the Tampa Bay region.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia counties until further notice.
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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.
READ | Watches? Warnings? What do all the tropical alerts really mean?
Watches and Warnings in effect:
Tropical Storm Warning: In effect Florida coast from Indian Pass to Aripeka, and St. Augustine, Florida to South Santee River South Carolina
Storm Surge Warning: In effect for Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River South Carolina