LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Debby makes landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida
Our Tracking the Tropics team will have live coverage of Hurricane Debby beginning at 12 p.m. ET on WFLA.com, the WFLA app and the WFLA YouTube page.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Hurricane Debby has been downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall at Steinhatchee, located in the Big Bend region of Florida, the National Hurricane Center.
The storm's maximum sustained winds are 70 mph, as of the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. Monday update. It is expected to weaken over the next two days.
The storm is about 35 miles west of Lake City, Florida and moving north-northeast at 8 mph.
A major flood threat continues across the Gulf coast of Florida. The area from Yankeetown to the Ochlockonee River is expected to receive up to 10 feet of storm surge. The Tampa Bay area will see 3 to 5 feet, if the surge occurs during high tide.
Debby is expected to move slowly across north Florida and south Georgia late Monday and Tuesday. It will be near the Georgia coast by Tuesday night. After that, there is uncertainty about the storm's exact path.
Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, is forecast across parts of central and northern Florida and southeastern North Carolina through Friday morning.
Watches and Warnings issued:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to the Ochlockonee River
- Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Florida coast from Indian Pass to the middle of Longboat Key
- St. Augustine, Florida to South Santee River South Carolina