Hurricane Debby Unleashes Catastrophic Flooding Across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas

Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, early Monday, bringing sustained winds of 80 mph and initiating what the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns could be a historically catastrophic flooding event across the Gulf Coast and extending into the southeastern U.S.

The NHC issued a dire advisory, predicting heavy rainfall from southeast Georgia through South Carolina and up to southeast North Carolina. Debby’s center, as of Monday afternoon, was moving north-northeast, with maximum sustained winds decreasing to 65 mph after making landfall approximately 5 miles west of Steinhatchee in Florida’s Big Bend region.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to prioritize safety, advising against travel in the storm’s path. The state began experiencing Debby’s impacts Sunday evening, with widespread flooding already reported along Florida’s west coast from Sarasota northward. The NHC labeled the situation as “life-threatening,” stressing the need for immediate action to protect lives and property from rising waters and other hazardous conditions.

Taylor County, the landfall site, reported treacherous roadways due to downed trees and power lines. Over 215,000 utility customers in Florida were without power Monday afternoon. Debby, which had been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane late Sunday, gained significant strength over abnormally warm Gulf of Mexico waters—temperatures approximately 5 degrees Fahrenheit above seasonal averages, a phenomenon linked to human-caused climate change.

Forecasters anticipate rainfall totals between 6 and 18 inches in central and northern Florida through Saturday morning. Following its passage through Florida, Debby’s center is expected to move across southeastern Georgia Monday night and reach South Carolina by Tuesday. Parts of these states could see at least 10 inches of rain, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 30 inches through Friday morning, prompting states of emergency declarations from both Georgia and South Carolina governors. Tornadoes are also a possibility in parts of Florida and southern Georgia on Monday.

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