Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward Florida, with potential record-setting rains further north

Tropical Storm Debby is strengthening as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Sunday the storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, up from 50 mph just a few hours ago. Forecasters predict it will become a hurricane before coming ashore. Debby is likely to bring drenching rain and coastal flooding to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Sunday night. Forecasters warn it also could drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later in the week. Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.