Tropical Storm Debby became a Category 1 hurricane as it approached Florida on Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris, all of which formed in June.
Forecasters warned heavy amounts of rain from Debby could spawn catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.
The hurricane center said the storm was expected to land around midday Monday in the Big Bend area of Florida. A tornado watch also was in effect for parts of Florida and Georgia until 6 a.m. Monday.
Hurricane Idalia hit the sparsely populated Big Bend region in the Florida Panhandle last year, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane.
Debby was expected to move eastward over northern Florida and then stall over the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, thrashing the region with potential record-setting rains totaling up to 76 centimeters) beginning Tuesday.
Officials also warned of a life-threatening storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with 1.8 to 3 meters of inundation expected Monday between the Ochlockonee and Suwannee rivers.
