NOAA: Tropical Storm Debby Hits Florida, Warnings Changed

ORLANDO, Florida --  NOAA's National Hurricane Center storm tracker in Miami, Florida has issued a Tropical Storm Advisory at 11 p.m. EDT on June 25, 2012 which projects that Tropical Storm Debby will move slowly eastward over north Central Florida through Friday, and remain at tropical storm strength as it exits the Florida Peninsula into the open Atlantic Ocean on Saturday.

2 P.M.  June 26 UPDATE: NOAA: Tropical Storm Debby Moves Faster

North and Central Florida have already experienced high winds, tornadoes, rain, and other tropical storm weather since last Saturday from Tropical Storm Debby.

Florida metropolitan areas that are in the latest projected path are Tampa, Orlando, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Ocala, and St. Augustine. 

 

The center of Tropical Storm Debby was located near latitude 29.2 North, longitude 85.1 West, which is about 35 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida.  Tropical Storm Debby is moving to the northeast at 2 miles per hour.  A slow and possible erratic motion toward the northeast or east-northeast is expected over the next couple of days.  

NOAA's Tropical Storm Advisory states that isolated tornadoes are possible over the Florida peninsula.

 

The Tropical Storm Warning west of Mexico Beach, Florida has been discontinued.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Mexico Beach, Florida to Englewood, Florida.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the waning area within 36 hours.

 

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 12 to 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 45 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Little change in strengthening is forecast to occur during the next 48 hours.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 240 miles from the center, mainly to the southeast.  

NOOA Doppler radar indicate wind gusts near 60 miles per hour are likely occurring along the coast and inland from Apalachicola northeastward to Shell Point in the western Big Bend area of Florida.

Minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance aircraft is 992 MB ... 29.29 inches.

The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normall dry ares near the coast to be flooded by rising waters.  The water could reach the following depths above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:  

   

APALACHEE BAY TO WACCASASSA BAY...3 TO 5 FT
FLORIDA WEST COAST SOUTH OF WACCASASSA BAY...1 TO 3 FT

 

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore flow.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to produce rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches across Northern Florida, 4 to 8 inches across Central Florida and extreme southeastern Georgia, and 3 to 5 inches across extreme southeastern South Carolina and South Florida.  Isolated storm total amounts of 25 inches are possible in North Florida.

 

 

The U.S. Geological Survey says that this year, the Gulf Coast is vulnerable to extreme erosion.