Hurricane Watch Issued For Part Of Florida’s Coast
In an urgent weather update, the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane watch for part of Florida’s coast, anticipating the burgeoning Tropical Depression Four to intensify into Tropical Storm Debby. The storm warning comes as the depression, currently spiraling near Cuba, is forecasted to gain strength and manifest into a potential Category 1 hurricane by Sunday night or early Monday.
The Forecast: Tropical Depression Four Turns Into Debby
Major hurricane alerts have been communicated for parts of Florida, as weather experts project Tropical Depression Four to morph into Tropical Storm Debby. The impending system is anticipated to be at or near hurricane intensity before making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region.
Gusty winds, coastal flooding, and substantial rainfall are expected to affect the Florida Peninsula over the weekend. As the storm moves towards the Southeast coast, it might slow down or even stall, potentially escalating the impacts throughout the area.
A Hurricane Watch in Effect
A hurricane watch has been activated from Aucilla River to Yankeetown, in Florida’s Big Bend. This means that hurricane conditions are possible in this area within the next 48 hours. Simultaneously, Tropical Storm warnings and watches stretch from the Keys to north of Tampa Bay and into the easternmost Panhandle region, indicating that Tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
To complement hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings, a storm surge watch has also been issued for the west coast of the Florida peninsula from Bonita Beach to Aucilla River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Prospective life-threatening storm surge is predicted to affect this region.
Weather Pattern Tracker
Presently, Tropical Depression Four is centered near Cuba, charting a west-northwest direction. Bands of rainfall extending from the depression have started to impact southern Florida, leading to the early onset of the weather impacts harbingered by this system.
The storm is expected to make landfall within Florida’s Big Bend region by Sunday night or early Monday. Post landfall, it is projected to move towards the Southeast coast, potentially intensifying if it remains over water. The possibility of this system stalling near the Southeast coast could lead to prolonged impacts, specifically rain flooding.
The Anticipated Impacts
Heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding and isolated river flooding, is one of the main concerns of this system. The rainfall totals could potentially reach up to 5 to 10 inches across Florida and the Southeast coast, with local areas witnessing up to 15 inches by Thursday morning.
Moreover, coastal flooding from storm surge is an additional concern, especially on the western coast of Florida. The surge could potentially reach 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels if the peak surge coincides with high tide in Florida’s Big Bend.
The eventual system’s track across Florida might cause sporadic power outages or tree damage due to stronger wind gusts. Strong winds and the possibility of isolated tornadoes add another layer of potential threat over the weekend.
It is urged that people stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and prepare for potential hazards in the coming days.
