Heartbreaking News: As Debby moves north, it will be pouring rain in the Tampa Bay area.

Heartbreaking News: As Debby moves north, it will be pouring rain in the Tampa Bay area.

With between 4 and 8 inches of rain predicted for the area, conditions are predicted to worsen during the day.
As Tropical Storm Debby intensifies further in the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the time it reaches the coast on Monday morning near the Bend area.

According to the National Weather Service, as Debby moves northward and follows the coast, weather in the larger Tampa Bay area “will continue to deteriorate through the day”.

Debby’s maximum sustained winds increased to 50 mph early on Sunday morning. It was traveling at 13 mph toward the north-northwest and was roughly 190 miles south-southwest of Tampa.

The area is still under a flood warning, storm surge watch, and tropical storm watch.

By Sunday night, most of the Gulf Coast is expected to experience torrential rain and coastal flooding due to Debby. Predictions indicate that on Monday, the system may make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, then move over northern Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters predict that showers will occur throughout the day due to rain bands and gusty winds connected with Debby, with isolated thunderstorms possible from a few of the larger bands. Additionally, there’s a small chance of spin-up tornadoes.

The highest gusts and storms are expected from the Nature Coast to the north, where Debby is expected to pass closest before making landfall on Monday morning, according to experts. The area nearest to the coast will see the most intense rain.