Debby Update

At Noon (EDT) Tropical Storm Debby was located about 140 miles to the south southwest of Apalachicola, Florida, with sustained winds in the outer band to the northeast of the center of about 50-55mph.  The storm had been moving slowly to the northeast but it has become stationary for the past few hours.  Although Debby has presented quite a forecasting challenge for meteorologists with various forecast tracks from Texas to Florida, for those of us in Florida the more basic question is what can we expect?   Debby is now causing or will soon cause tropical storm force winds along the northeast Gulf coast from Pensacola to Tampa as bands of heavy rain squalls make landfall this afternoon through Monday afternoon.  Other areas along the southwest Florida coast could experience tropical storm force wind gusts from these rainbands.  The outer bands have moved inland to the central Florida peninsula from Belle Glade to Sebring to Ocala to Lake City, Gainesville and Tallahassee.   In east central Florida expect light to moderate rain this afternoon through Monday with heavy rain squalls from feeder bands later this afternoon and evening.  Frequent showers are still likely on Tuesday.  Showers and a few thunderstorms are likely to continue in southeast Florida.  Isolated tornadoes are possible over just about all of Florida this afternoon/evening.   Debby's eventual movement is still uncertain although I tend to favor a track across north Florida on Monday or perhaps even Tuesday.  The National Hurricane Center has issued the following Watches/Warnings for Florida:   A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED EASTWARD ALONG THE NORTHWEST COAST OF FLORIDA TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED SOUTH OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER TO ANCLOTE KEY. Debby remains a rather disorganized storm with most of the rain displaced to the north and east of the center so I would not anticipate any significant intensification during the next 24 hours.  Changes in the west coast watches and warning areas are likely as Debby slowly evolves.  Although I would not expect significant weather (other than the possibility of an isolated tornado) in east central Florida, folks in northern and western Florida should continue to monitor the guidance from their local National Weather Service office for wind, wave and flooding hazards. ED