Debby still strong tropical storm, major flooding reported

After making landfall in Florida, Tropical Storm Debby has continued to create major flooding hazards in the Southeastern United States.

According to the Monday 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the maximum sustained winds are 50 mph with higher gusts.

The storm was downgraded from hurricane status to a tropical storm during the 11 a.m. advisory.

The system is moving north-northeast at 6 mph.

Later Monday and Tuesday, a gradual decrease in forward speed with a turn toward the northeast and east is expected.

Debby is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia throughout Monday and Tuesday.

A storm surge warning has been issued on the Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to the Ochlockonee River.

The storm surge warning from west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass has been discontinued.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area for the next few hours.

A coastal flood advisory remains in place for Charlotte and Lee Counties until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Debby passed Southwest Florida as a tropical storm, creating rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches.

The rainfall and winds set off flash and urban flooding warnings as well as scores of tornado warnings in the area over the weekend.

As of 11 a.m. Monday, a storm surge watch remained in effect from Englewood northward, including Charlotte Harbor.

A flood watch remains in effect for Lee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties through 8 p.m. Monday.

There is also a new disturbance in the Caribbean.

A tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms east of the Windward Islands.

Environmental conditions appear generally favorable for some slow development over
the next week while the system moves westward at around 20 mph over
the Caribbean Sea.

There is a 30% chance of further development over the next seven days.