DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Issues Message
As Tropical Storm Debby approaches, we want to assure our community the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is fully committed to your safety and well-being. Our dedicated law enforcement deputies are working tirelessly around the clock to serve and protect you during this time.
Your safety is our top priority, and we are prepared to weather any storm together. Remember we’re here to assist and support you every step of the way. Stay informed and reach out if you need help.
Tropical Storm Debby is intensifying as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico, heading toward the Big Bend region of Florida. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all coastal areas of Southwest Florida through Monday.
As of the National Weather Service’s 11 a.m. update, Debby has prompted both storm surge warnings and hurricane watches. The forecast predicts a storm surge of 2-4 feet in Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. “This is a life-threatening situation,” the service cautioned. Residents in these areas are urged to take all necessary precautions to protect life and property from rising waters and other hazardous conditions. By Sunday morning, rains and winds had already started to increase in Charlotte, DeSoto, and Sarasota counties.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service and AccuWeather both suggest that Debby could strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall. The current forecast track shows Debby moving north-northwest at approximately 13 mph. It is expected to traverse the eastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight and reach the Florida Big Bend coast by Monday morning. The storm is then projected to continue into Georgia on Monday and Tuesday.
As of the latest update, the storm’s center was located west of Sarasota County. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph, with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is expected, with Debby likely to reach hurricane status by tonight. Tropical-storm-force winds are extending up to 140 miles from the center of the storm. Key West Naval Air Station reported a gust of 47 mph.
If Debby maintains its current trajectory, it will make landfall north of Tampa Bay in the Big Bend region, an area still recovering from Hurricane Idalia a year ago. A storm surge watch has been issued, which could impact local areas starting Sunday and extend through Monday afternoon. Concerns are heightened due to the storm’s potential impact coinciding with high tide times. For instance, high tides at Englewood Beach are expected at 4:35 a.m. and 1:51 p.m. on Sunday.
Florida’s flat topography makes it particularly susceptible to flooding, even on sunny days during king tides. Additionally, Tropical Storm Debby could trigger river flooding and overwhelm drainage systems. Forecasts predict 5 to 10 inches of rain, potentially causing “locally considerable” flash and urban flooding. Moderate flooding is also expected for some rivers along Florida’s West Coast. The heaviest rainfall might occur next week along the Atlantic Coast, from Jacksonville to Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Ahead of the storm, many Florida cities have been preparing by filling sandbags. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Thursday, covering most Florida counties from the Keys through Central Florida, the Tampa Bay region, and into the western Panhandle.
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham noted that the combination of above-average water temperatures and other factors could lead to rapid intensification of the storm. As of Saturday afternoon, AccuWeather’s forecast predicted that Debby could make landfall with maximum sustained winds ranging from 74 mph to 95 mph, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. However, Buckingham indicated that the storm might intensify to Category 2 status before landfall.
The National Hurricane Center has also raised the possibility of a hurricane impacting Florida. The Florida Division of Emergency Management advised residents to secure any outdoor items that could become dangerous projectiles in strong winds and to heed all local official warnings.
The AccuWeather forecast includes up to 8 inches of rain across the Florida peninsula and up to 12 inches in Northeast Florida. The hurricane center’s potential “cone” shows the storm making landfall in the Big Bend and then moving east across North Florida and South Georgia.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
