Hurricane Debby Makes Landfall in Florida as a Hurricane, Now Considered Tropical Storm



Hurricane Debby Makes Landfall in Florida as a Hurricane, Now Considered Tropical Storm



FLORIDA - After making landfall on the Florida coast earlier this morning, Hurricane Debby has become a tropical storm. The storm still brings with it the possibility of catastrophic flooding as record-setting rain is expected.

Debby made landfall as a Category 1 storm near the small community of Steinhatchee, CBS News reported, which has a total population of roughly 1,000 residents. This is a less populous part of Florida, but forecasters still warn that heavy rain could kickstart heavy flooding in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia.

NOAA / NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
After making landfall in Northern Florida, Hurricane Debby is now considered a tropical storm (Photo Credit: NOAA/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

This is due in part because forecasters believe that record-setting rain could pummel Georgia and South Carolina as the storm heads east.

As of 11 a.m. EST, nearly 300,000 Florida homes and businesses were without electricity. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis assured residents that some 17,000 linemen are working to restore power and to sit tight until conditions are safe.

We’ll continue to report on the potential effects of the storm in the coming days, so stay tuned.