By Raul Castillo
04 Aug 2024, 18:59 PM EDT
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned Sunday that Tropical Storm Debby, currently moving north of the state, will become a hurricane before making landfall on Monday, causing severe flooding in the region.
During a news conference from a control center, DeSantis stressed the urgency of the situation and asked residents to prepare for the impending impact.
According to DeSantis, Debby will reach Category 1 status in the next few hours, following a similar path to Hurricane Idalia, which hit northern Florida in August of last year as a Category 4 hurricane.
However, he stressed that Debby could cause “more severe effects” due to the forecast heavy rains.
“Although this storm will not have winds of the magnitude of Hurricane Idalia, it will leave much more water in the north of the state of Florida and we expect very significant flooding,” warned the governor.
To deal with potential emergencies, DeSantis has activated the Florida National Guard and urged people to stay alert, avoid flooded areas and not drive on flooded roads.
Dangerous storm
The National Hurricane Center (NHC), based in Miami, reported that Debby is located about 205 kilometers (125 miles) from Tampa, moving north at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour (13 miles per hour) and with sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (65 miles per hour).
It is expected to make landfall on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, affecting not only Florida but also parts of Georgia and South Carolina with heavy rain.
Debby is the fourth tropical storm to form in the Atlantic basin this season, which began on June 1. Previously, storms Alberto, Beryl and Chris developed, with Beryl reaching Category 5, the maximum on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The forecast for heavy rain and possible flooding has prompted authorities to issue warnings and additional preparations in potentially affected areas. Communities are being informed through various means to ensure that all residents take the necessary precautions.
Authorities will continue to monitor Debby’s progress and provide updates as it approaches the coast, ensuring that response measures are effective and timely to protect the people of Florida.
With information from EFE.
Keep reading:
– New extreme heat wave to hit the United States: Prevention measures and forecasts
– Tropical Storm Carlotta could become a hurricane, will it affect the United States?
– Meteorologists warn of possible tropical storm in Louisiana and Florida for the weekend