Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Debby and aims at Florida's Gulf coast
A front that moved north past Cuba overnight and became Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday as it added muscle will likely register hurricane-strength winds before reaching Florida's south-facing Gulf coastline, forecasters said.
A front that moved north past Cuba overnight and became Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday as it added muscle will likely register hurricane-strength winds before reaching Florida's south-facing Gulf coastline, forecasters said.
Since Friday, the front developed from a potential tropical cyclone to a tropical depression, and it continues to draw strength from warm, tropical water. Tropical Storm Debby was expected to continue moving northwest at 14 mph and hug Florida's west coast.
"The center of Debby will move across the southeastern and eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Sunday, reaching the Florida Gulf coast late Sunday night or Monday," the National Hurricane Center said in an update Saturday.
The storm was about 270 miles south of Tampa, Florida, by 8 p.m. ET, according to the center. On Saturday night, the city of Tampa said in statement that it would close parks, recreation centers and marinas in anticipation of heavy weather on Sunday.
Debby is the fourth named storm of the North Atlantic hurricane season.
Rating: 5