Storm surges and huge amounts of rainfall follow tropical storm Debby

The US National Hurricane Center states that Debby was located southwest of Tampa on Florida’s west coast on the night of Sunday. It is expected to hit the Big Bend area in Florida on Monday morning, according to the American hurricane center NHC.

They describe the situation as life-threatening. NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome says it is becoming increasingly clear that Debby will strengthen into a hurricane before it makes landfall, and urges people to follow the evacuation orders that have been issued.

– There are a number of dangers, not just the wind, emphasizes Rhome. He warns that storm surges of 2 meters are expected in the Big Bend area, just south-east of the so-called Panhandle – and enormous amounts of rain.

On Sunday, the NHC reports that Debby is expected to bring between 150 and 300 mm of rain in parts of Florida – and as much as 500 and 750 mm of rain in Georgia and South Carolina “before the week is over”.

Hurricane Center spokesman Mike Brennan warns of “several days of very, very heavy rain” – perhaps at record levels. He warns of floods and inundations in areas where this usually does not happen.

Debby will be the fourth hurricane of the season in the Atlantic Ocean, and the hurricane center has predicted many hurricanes this year due to unusually warm seas as a result of climate change.