4 p.m. Advisory: Debby Has Not Changed Much, Still Expected to Strengthen into a Hurricane Overnight

Debbie has not changed much according to the Hurricane Hunters. It is trying to form an eyewall though, which could allow it to rapidly intensify overnight.

FAST FACTS
———————————————-
LOCATION…27.7N 84.4W
ABOUT 120 MI…190 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 125 MI…200 KM SW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…65 MPH…100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…992 MB…29.30 INCHES

There is a tremendous amount of tall convection bursting around the center. See all that black, grey, and pick convection? Those are really cold cloud tops. There are lightning flashes in the outer bands, but not in the core thunderstorms yet.

I think it will rapidly intensify overnight and may surpass the official forecast of an 85 mph hurricane.

There are two tornado warnings in effect inteh Port Charlotte area over western Florida. There is a threat of tornadoes overnight across the Peninsula.

A FEW REPORTS
…Winds gusted to 61 mph in Clearwater Beach. 58 mph gust was reported near Ana Maria Island.
…0.44″ of rain fell in 5 minutes in Sarasota.
…Extensive flooding is reported in downtown punta Gorda from storm surge.
…Storm surge flooding was reported in Nokomis as well.
…3 feet of storm surge flooding was reported in Fort Myers.

Category: ALL POSTS, Tropical