Hurricane Debby Intensifies in the Tropics: Forecasted Path and Tracking Information

The National Hurricane Center has reclassified Tropical Storm Debby as a Category 1 hurricane with wind speeds of 75 mph.

The forecast remains consistent for further enhancement overnight as Debby draws energy from the warm waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Above-average water temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees are fueling the storm’s intensification before it reaches land, expected around 7 a.m. ET in the Big Bend area of Florida.

-ABC News’ Daniel Amarante

While still a tropical storm, Debby is approaching hurricane force, generating sustained wind speeds of up to 70 mph.

Debby will continue to rapidly intensify overnight as it moves northward over the warm waters of the Gulf. The storm is predicted to become a hurricane by tonight and is anticipated to strengthen to at least a powerful Category 1 hurricane before landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday morning (around 7 a.m. ET), with sustained wind speeds near 85 mph and the possibility of gusts exceeding 100 mph.

Positioned approximately 90 miles southwest of Cedar Key, Florida, the storm is causing significant impacts along the Florida Gulf Coast, including heavy rainfall, storm surge, strong winds, and potential tornadoes.

A wind gust of 56 mph was recorded in St. Petersburg, with two tornadoes reported in central Florida.

A 60-mph wind gust was also observed near Sarasota, Florida.

Numerous reports of flooding due to heavy rainfall and surges have been reported along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The Tornado Watch covering a large part of northern and central Florida and southern Georgia has been extended until 6 a.m. ET on Monday.

Once Debby moves inland, it will weaken. However, the lack of a steering current will cause the storm to significantly slow down. While its precise path remains uncertain, models suggest that the storm will drift over the Atlantic or Southeast coastline late Monday night into Tuesday before potentially moving back over Georgia and the Carolinas. Interaction with the Atlantic could re-energize Debby, but this will depend on the storm’s trajectory.

Although the track and timing of Debby remain uncertain later in the week, it is highly likely to bring historic rainfall and significant flooding to parts of the Southeast.

Rainfall amounts ranging from 6 to 12 inches are possible from Florida’s Big Bend region through southeastern Georgia and into the Carolinas. Coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall, with widespread totals of 10 to 20 inches and localized amounts of up to 30 inches. Consequently, significant urban and river flooding is expected.

Apart from rainfall, hurricane and tropical storm force winds will continue to lash Florida and are likely to intensify Sunday night into Monday as the storm approaches the coast, with areas just south and east of the storm’s center experiencing the strongest gusts early Monday morning.

Storm surge will also worsen along Florida’s northern and central Gulf coast tonight into Monday morning, with the highest surge expected between Suwannee River and Ochlockonee River (6 to 10 feet).

All tropical alerts remain unchanged from the previous update.

-ABC News meteorologist Shawnie Caslin Martucci

By 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Tropical Storm Debby still had wind speeds of 65 mph and is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane overnight, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Debby is projected to hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a hurricane on Monday morning around 7 a.m.

Rainfall is anticipated to be the most significant impact of this storm, affecting a broad area over an extended period.