A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico has strengthened into Tropical Storm Debby as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.
From left, Matthew Blowers and Patrick Brafford prepare to secure a lifeguard tower in preparation of potential storm at Clearwater Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla.
Forecasters warn it could also drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina early next week. The National Hurricane Center in Miami forecast that the depression will strengthen as it curves northward off the southwest Florida coast, where the water has been extremely warm with temperatures approaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit this week.Predictions show the system could come ashore as strong tropical storm or hurricane on Monday and cross over northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, where it's likely to remain a tropical storm threatening Georgia and the Carolinas early next week.
"We could see a stall or a meandering motion around coastal portions of the southeastern United States," National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a Saturday briefing. "So that's going to exacerbate not just the rainfall risk, but also the potential for storm surge and some strong winds."
Christina Lothrop is the general manager at Blue Pelican Marina in Hernando Beach, a barrier island about 50 miles north of St. Petersburg. She said Saturday still seemed like a regular summer day, with the public ramp across the street jammed with people launching boats.Workers at her marina have been getting ready for the storm since Tuesday, however, securing boats stored on racks, stowing tool boxes and tying everything down.
Tropical Storm Debby Rain Flooding Gulf Of Mexico National Hurricane Center Warnings Evacuations
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