A storm was forming south of Cuba and heading towards Florida’s west coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Federal forecasters predicted that it would likely become a tropical storm by late Saturday. Referred to as Tropical Depression Four, it was below the threshold for tropical storm status with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph on Friday night. However, the National Hurricane Center anticipated that it would strengthen and potentially upgrade to a tropical storm, with the name Debby available for it. The storm was located 75 miles south of Caibarien, Cuba, at 11 p.m. ET and was expected to become a tropical storm over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by late Saturday.
The National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for the west coast of Florida, covering from the southern tip to Boca Grande. This warning indicated the anticipation of winds ranging from 39 to 73 mph, along with a storm surge, coastal flooding, and heavy rainfall in the next day or so. Tampa Bay and surrounding areas were under a storm surge watch, warning of the potential for life-threatening flooding as coastal waters and other waterways overflow onto dry land. Additionally, a tropical storm watch was in effect for certain areas, including the Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge.
The storm was forecasted to turn north into the Gulf of Mexico and stall off the west coast of Florida through early Sunday. This was expected to bring 1 to 4 feet of storm surge flooding, 4 to 8 inches of rain, and possibly up to 12 inches of rain in some regions. Cuba was also expected to receive rainfall of 1 to 2 inches, with the possibility of higher amounts. The National Hurricane Center predicted that the depression would continue to strengthen over the eastern Gulf of Mexico throughout the weekend.
If the storm intensifies and is upgraded to a tropical storm, it would become the fourth named storm of the North Atlantic hurricane season earlier than the average date of Aug. 15 for a fourth named storm to develop, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. Michelle Acevedo and Steve Strouss contributed to the information about the storm and its potential impacts on Florida and Cuba. Residents in the affected areas were urged to stay informed about the storm’s progress and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
