Raleigh, NC – Hurricane Debby has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane and is now located about 100 miles northwest of Tampa, FL, as of 11 PM on Sunday. The National Weather Service reports that Debby is forecast to make landfall in the Florida Big Bend coast on Monday morning.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia on Monday and Tuesday, reaching near the Georgia coast by Tuesday night. The primary concerns for eastern North Carolina remain heavy rainfall and potential flooding. The storm could begin to affect central North Carolina as early as Tuesday afternoon, with impacts potentially extending into the weekend.
Forecasters predict several inches of rain, with some areas expecting mid to late-week downpours. Gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph are also possible starting Wednesday or Thursday and could last into Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service warns that the track of Debby remains uncertain due to its expected slow movement, increasing the risk of prolonged heavy rainfall.
