Hurricane Debby has made landfall in Florida’s Gulf Coast region, specifically the Big Bend area, raising concerns about storm surges and severe flooding.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the weather system intensified into a Category One hurricane late on Sunday and reached shore near Steinhatchee on Monday morning.
Debby is now expected to progress slowly across Florida, bringing winds of up to 80 mph and potentially delivering as much as 30 inches (76 cm) of rain as it moves northward.
The fourth named storm of the season is also anticipated to impact Georgia and South Carolina in the coming days. The storm’s slow movement could result in record-breaking rainfall, according to Jamie Rhome, the deputy director of the NHC. “We’re talking about catastrophic flooding,” Rhome warned.
The strong winds from Debby have already caused significant power outages in Florida, with around 260,000 homes and businesses reported to be without electricity.
As the hurricane traverses Florida, it is expected to slow significantly due to the collapse of the high-altitude steering winds.
As the storm continues its path, it will likely drift slowly into the Atlantic Ocean, transitioning into a tropical storm. It is projected to bring persistent rainbands to southeast Georgia and the Carolinas on Tuesday and Wednesday, before moving inland over South Carolina on Thursday.
This historic rainfall is expected to cause catastrophic flooding, further intensified by a storm surge along the coast, which may trap water in river systems, preventing it from draining into the ocean.
In preparation for Debby’s landfall, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of the state’s 67 counties. He also mentioned that utility crews from both within and outside the state are on standby to assist with power restoration after the storm.
Residents across Florida are bracing for the impact, including those who have recently repaired their homes from previous storms.
Spyridon Aibejeris, for example, had just completed repairs on his Keaton Beach home from Hurricane Idalia, a Category Three storm from last summer.
“Man, I’ve done this so many times,” Aibejeris told. “You just go back and see what you’ve got to do.” He added, “I hope I don’t have to go back to that again.”
Forecasters had anticipated a busy hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a particularly concerning forecast for this season, predicting up to 25 named storms in 2024. Of these, between eight and 13 could develop into hurricanes, according to NOAA.
Hurricane Debby is the fourth named storm of the year, following Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, and Tropical Storm Chris. It is believed that climate change may be increasing the likelihood of slow-moving hurricanes like Debby.
As the planet heats unevenly, it alters atmospheric patterns that steer storms, potentially contributing to these slow-moving weather events.
