Debby is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Big Bend on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane.
The storm had sustained wind speeds of 80mph at 2 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center, and was about 40 miles west of Cedar Key.
Tropical storm conditions are already affecting Florida, with more than 10 inches of rain in some areas and more than 100,000 people without power.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 counties expected to be affected by the storm. In a statement, his office said that 3,000 National Guard members have been mobilized.
Parts of central and northern Florida and southeastern North Carolina could get 6 to 12 inches of rain, with up to 18 inches possible. And parts of southeast Georgia and South Carolina could get 10 to 20 inches of rain, with up to 30 inches in some areas, the hurricane center said.
Patrick SmithPatrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.
Florida could see some tornadoes as a result of the huge weather system brought by Debby today, the National Hurricane Center said.
“Occasional/brief tornadic spin-ups remain likely over the next several hours,” the center said in an update late last night, alongside a map that shows Tampa Bay in the area of greatest risk.
This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image taken at 11:11 p.m. ET on last night shows Hurricane Debby approaching Florida.
In Florida, residents are stacking sandbags and boarding up windows as Tropical Storm Debby is expected to strengthen rapidly before making landfall. Heavy rains have already begun and evacuations have been ordered in some areas. States of emergency are also in effect for Georgia and South Carolina. NBC News’ Marissa Parra reports on the storm.
