CATASTROPHEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Storm Debby to turn into hurricane before hitting Florida
41 minutes ago41 minutes ago
Storm Debby, which is expected to turn into a Category 1 hurricane, is likely to bring historic rainfall levels and catastrophic flooding in the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

https://p.dw.com/p/4j6cz
Palm trees blow from Tropical Storm Debby’s bands, in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, United States
Authorities have warned of life-threatening storm surgesImage: Maria Alejandra Cardona/REUTERS
Tropical storm Debby is expected to rapidly strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida’s Gulf Coast by midday Monday, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of record-setting rainfall and storm surges.

The tropical storm was just shy of being designated a hurricane on Sunday night with winds of 70 mph (112 kmh). Currently, the storm is gathering strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Debby as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward FloridaThis satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Debby as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida
Debby is likely to turn into the second hurricane originating from the Atlantic in 2024Image: NOAA/AP/picture alliance
Once it makes landfall, the storm will likely slowly move north through the week, the NHC said.

“This is going to be the story of this storm,” Jamie Rhome, the deputy director of the hurricane center said in a Facebook live. “It’s slow motion is going to dump historic amounts of rainfall — potentially over 20 inches (50.8 cms). You’re talking about catastrophic flooding.”

Potentially record-setting rainfall
Debby is expected to dump up to 12 inches of rain in parts of Florida, and as much as 20 to 30 inches in coastal Georgia and South Carolina before the week is over, the NHC said, describing it as a “potentially historic heavy rainfall.”

This is likely to cause catastrophic flooding in central-north Florida, while Georgia and South Carolina are braced for the worst later in the week.

“We are looking at potentially really, really significant flooding that will happen, particularly in north-central Florida,” state Governor Ron DeSantis told an emergency briefing on the storm Sunday.

Debby is also expected to cause life-threatening storm surges of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in some areas, the NHC said.

Evacuation and preparations
Mandatory evacuations were ordered late Saturday for part of Citrus County, Florida, with eight other counties under voluntary evacuation orders, as per local media.

Both DeSantis and Rhome urged Floridians to complete their preparations and brace for the storm.

Workers place plywood over the windows of a business as they prepare for the possible arrival of Tropical Storm DebbyWorkers place plywood over the windows of a business as they prepare for the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Debby
Some 3,000 members of the National Guard are on standby in FloridaImage: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
State of emergency in Georgia and South Carolina
Governors of Georgia and South Carolina declared a state of emergency.

Meanwhile Florida’s DeSantis activated the state’s National Guard with 3,000 service members on standby.

Weather forecasters expect 2024 to bring a large number of hurricanes originating in the Atlantic ocean, due to exceptionally warm sea waters. The season, which began on June 1, is likely to surpass that of 2005 which brought the devastating Katrina and Rita hurricanes.

So far, 2024 has seen one hurricane — Beryl — from the Atlantic, which became the earliest category 5 hurricane on record.

Storm Beryl leaves trail of destruction in Caribbean, Texas

01:23
mk/jsi (Reuters, AFP)