FLORIDA – Tropical storm Debby is expected to gather strength and become a hurricane on the night of Aug 4, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said, rather than Aug 5, as it had forecast just hours before. #TropicalStormDebby
Forecasters predict a high number of Atlantic hurricanes for the 2024 season, starting June 1. They anticipate four to seven major storms among 25 named ones. This forecast surpasses the 2005 season, which included hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Governor Ron DeSantis called up 3,000 National Guard members to prepare for Debby. He placed most Florida cities and counties under emergency orders. Evacuations were ordered in Gulf Coast counties, including Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus.
“It’s become clearer and clearer that Debby will become a hurricane before it makes landfall,” said Mr Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the NHC, urging people to heed the evacuation orders.
The agency revised its forecast for Debby at 2am (2pm, Singapore time). Debby had become a named tropical storm late on Aug 3.
Debby moved at 23 km/h toward the Gulf Coast, about 370 km southwest of Tampa. Winds will increase from 72 km/h to 113 km/h or more as it strengthens into a hurricane.
It left Cuba’s northern coast on the evening of August 3, when it was about 160 km southwest of Key West, Florida. The NHC added this information.
“This is a life-threatening situation,” the NHC said in a report. There were “a host of hazards, not just the wind,” Mr Rhome added.
He warned that storm surges could reach up to 2 meters along Florida’s Big Bend area. Debby is expected to strike just southeast of the Panhandle. #TropicalStormDebby
Consequently, local authorities are taking preventive measures to safeguard residents. Additionally, evacuations are underway in key areas such as Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus.
