What impacts could Florida see from future Tropical Storm Debby?

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Updated  August 2, 2024 1:46pm EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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See track for future Tropical Storm Debby

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Potential Tropical Cyclone Four, formerly known as Invest 97L, has a strong chance of becoming a tropical depression, and potentially Tropical Storm Debby this weekend near Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. - All eyes are on Potential Tropical Cyclone Four, a tropical wave formerly known as Invest 97L, that is expected to develop into a tropical depression and potentially Tropical Storm Debby as it tracks toward Florida. 

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the system is expected to enter the southeast Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, where it will likely develop into a tropical depression as it crosses the Straits of Florida, and then intensify into a tropical storm by Saturday night.

The exact strength and landfall of the future storm are yet to be determined. The latest tracks show the storm's timing from this weekend through Monday.

LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Debby may form this weekend; tropical storm watches, warnings issued in Florida

Expected Impacts on Central Florida

While the forecast remains uncertain, the FOX 35 Storm Team has an idea of the impacts Central Florida can expect.

Those impacts include flooding rain with over 10 inches in some locations, isolated tornadoes, and wind gusts between 45 and 60 mph, which could lead to scattered power outages.

State of emergency issued for most of Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Thursday ahead of the tropical system in the following counties: 

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.

The forecast is far from certain, so stay tuned for the latest.

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