As of 8 a.m this morning, projections from the National Hurricane Center show that Tropical Storm Debby should make landfall in northern Florida early Monday morning, with the storm expected to strengthen into a hurricane later this evening.
In a weather advisory issued this morning, the NHC reported that Tropical Storm Debby is currently located west of the state in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm, which has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and tropical-storm force winds extending outward up to 140 miles from the center, is traveling north-northwest at 13 mph.
According to the NHC, the center of the storm should move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight and reach the Florida Big Bend coast on Monday morning.
“Debby is then expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia Monday and Tuesday,” reads the update from the NHC.
The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, across portions of northern Florida through Friday morning. The rainfall will likely result in areas of “considerable flash and urban flooding,” according to the NHC.
The county is providing free sandbags while supplies last today at the following locations:
- City of Dunnellon, 11924 Bostick Street, Dunnellon
- Martel Recycling Center, 296 SW 67 AVE, Ocala
- Belleview Sports Complex, 6501 SE 107 Street, Belleview
- John Van Fleet Sports Complex, 14445 NE 14th St.Road, Ocala
- Wrigley Field, 405 County Road East 316, Citra
- Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala
Sandbags are limited to 10 per vehicle and shovels will be provided.
As of this morning, Marion County Public Schools say they are monitoring the situation. Teachers are still scheduled to report for work on Monday, August 5. Classes in the district begin on Monday, August 12.
“MCPS works directly with Marion County’s Emergency Management Team and continues monitoring this weekend’s weather for any potential impact to our district,” reads a statement issued from the district on Friday afternoon.