Debby Makes Landfall in Big Bend Region of Florida as Category 1 Storm

Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 storm packing sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm came on shore just before 7:00 am EDT Monday morning along the Big Bend region near Steinhatchee. Here is the latest on this fluid weather situation in Florida as it heads toward the southeastern corner of the U.S.

Latest on Debby

Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm roughly four hours after landfall. The storm is now well inland over the Sunshine State, expected to hit the northern tier of Florida and southern Georgia by the end of the day.

Officials said that there are at least 300,000 customers without power in Florida as hurricane-force winds pummel the state. Debby's most significant impacts in the hours ahead will be heavy rain and life-threatening flooding.

Storm surge flooding of a few feet hit Fort Myers Beach on Sunday, the part of the peninsula that took the worst of Hurricane Ian nearly two years ago. Water levels also ticked up significantly along Tampa Bay on Sunday night.

Sarasota has recorded over a foot of rain since Friday with over 6 inches recorded in Tampa and 4 inches in Fort Myers during this time period. The rapid rises in water levels on streams and rivers will continue to be an issue on Monday and Tuesday for northern Florida.

A tropical storm warning is still in effect for the Big Bend region in the coastal areas from Yankeetown to Indian Pass. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for the other side of the state from St. Augustine and up to the South Santee River in South Carolina.