Hurricane Debby lost some strength early Monday as it continued its northeastern journey 60 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key and is expected to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend in the next few hours, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. update. Meanwhile, Central Florida counties remain under a tornado watch.
Debby is the second hurricane to form in the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which intensified from a tropical storm late Sunday. The category 1 storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Winds are expected to decrease to 65 mph and downgrade to a tropical storm. It is then predicted to pass over parts of northern Florida. Debby's hurricane-force winds extend outward by 25 miles, its tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 140 miles. Although the center of Debby is passing north, Central Florida isn't out of the woods, just yet, according to the National Weather Service.
"Don't let your guard down. Heavy rainfall, tropical storm-force wind gusts, and a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out heading into the evening and overnight hours," the National Weather Service said in a 5 p.m. update.
Lake County is under a Flood Advisory until 8:00 a.m. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen and an additional 1-3 inches is still possible through 8 a.m. Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas is expected, according to an NWS 5 a.m. update. Marion and Sumter counties are a flood watch until 8 p.m. tonight.
Parts of Central Florida are under a tornado watch until 4 p.m. Monday including Volusia, Lake, Marion, Seminole, Sumter, Orange, and Osceola, according to the NWS. Marion and Sumter counties are under a flash flood warning. Debby could bring rain amounts ranging from 2 to 6 inches across Central Florida, according to the NHC.
Marion, Sumter, and the southern part of Lake counties are under a tropical storm warning.
In both Lake and Marion counties, there are over 30,000 customers experiencing blackouts, according to poweroutage.us.
Lake County opened a shelter at Leesburg Elementary Sunday for residents including the general population, those with special medical needs, and families with pets.
Parts of Central Florida have begun feeling some of the outer bands. On Sunday, Orlando International Airport reported a wind gust of 52 mph, according to the NWS.
RELATED: Weather and Storm Tracking
Areas under Tropical Storm Warning
Lake County
• Clermont • Mascotte Sumter County • Wildwood • Lake Panasoffkee • Bushnell
Marion County
• Anthony • Burbank • Ocala • Weirsdale
