BE PREPARED: Projected Path of Tropical Storm Debby Will Affect Lanier County and Surrounding Areas
By Carol A. Gasser Moore
SOUTH GEORGIA – The National Weather Service at Tallahassee is reporting that Tropical Storm Debby is strengthening as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Debby is currently predicted to stay over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico during Sunday and then make landfall very late Sunday night or early Monday morning. On-line, go to: https://www.weather.gov/tae/.
Checking locally, area First Responders are alert and monitoring the storm’s progress and are in a “wait and see” mode. When asked if any special preparations for the storm are going on in Lanier County, Sheriff Nick Norton said, “No. Just waiting!”
Most of the announced significant preparations for the storm making landfall are occurring in the Big Bend area of Florida at this time, including the voluntary evacuation of barrier islands. Tropical storm force wind which can approach up to 140 miles from the storm’s center are being heavily monitored by the National Weather Service (NWS). At the time of writing this story, the storm is sitting about 155 miles southwest of Tampa and strengthening.
According to the NWS most recent update, Tropical Storm Debby has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour.
It is tonight (Sunday, August 4) that the North Florida area expects the intensification of the storm causing it to become a hurricane as it approaches landfall in the Big Bend on Monday morning.
The NWS indicates that a hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Gulf coast. The warning covers the area from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass. It includes the Florida coast east of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown as well.
Monitoring agencies indicate that heavy wind, rain and flooding are expected along the system’s path, with maximum rainfall totals up to 15 inches possible.
The Lanier County News suggests going on-line to: https://www.cdc.gov/hurricanes/safety/index.html/ and review information relating to preparing for storms.
This is a developing story.
