Tropical Storm Watch Extends North Of Tampa As System Heads To FL: NWS

Updated: 6:42 p.m., Friday

FLORIDA — As potential Tropical Cyclone 4 takes aim at Florida, tropical storm conditions are expected to affect much of the state's west coast starting Saturday night into Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The system is likely to strengthen into Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, forecasters said. Cities in the Tampa region offered sandbags Friday to residents to prepare for 4 to 8 inches of rain over the weekend.

While most experts anticipate the system making landfall as a tropical storm, some think it could develop further.

“If it spends more time over the water and makes landfall up the Florida west coast, can’t rule out a Category 1 hurricane,” Matt Devitt, meteorologist with WINK Weather, wrote in a Facebook post. “That’s more of a worst case scenario, again, model majority is tropical storm.”

Tropical storm warnings and watches were extended Friday afternoon into areas north of the Tampa Bay area as the tropical system made its way toward the eastern Gulf and the Sunshine State.

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Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties are currently under a tropical storm watch, as well as inland Charlotte and Lee counties, the National Weather Service said.

The Tampa Bay area should feel the worst of the storm's effects by 2 p.m. Sunday, according to NHC graphics.

The National Weather Service said the metro should see peak winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, staying below tropical storm force.

"Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force," the NWS said. "Efforts to protect property should now be underway. Prepare for limited wind damage. Emergency plans should include the potential for moderate flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are possible. Consider protective actions if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding. Heed any flood watches and warnings. Failure to take action may result in serious injury or loss of life."

Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in place in parts of Southwestern Florida, from East Cape Sable in Monroe County to coastal Lee and Charlotte counties, from Bonita Beach to Englewood.

Heavy rains from the storm could cause flash and urban flooding across parts of Florida and coastal areas of the Southeast this weekend through Wednesday, NHC said. Some river flooding is possible in some areas, as well.

There’s also a storm surge watch in effect along the coast from Charlotte to Levy counties.

“There is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from storm surge along portions of the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor,” NHC said.

A surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible in the Tampa Bay area Sunday, “and unfortunately, yet again, the tide is high when the storm approaches,” Denis Phillips, chief meteorologist for ABC Action News, wrote in a Facebook post. “The exact track DOES matter on this. If it stays offshore longer, the storm will get stronger and the surge could be a bit higher in Citrus and Levy counties. If ‘Debby to be’ goes onshore sooner, the resulting surge would be lower across the entire area.”

He also said the area might see 2 to 6 inches of rain “with some spots higher and some spots lower.”

Devitt wrote that the system “will be largely a rainmaker with some tropical storm impacts.”

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Gov. Ron DeSantis previously issued a state of emergency for numerous counties, including the Tampa Bay area.

The counties under the state of emergency are Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.

Some parts of Florida could see at least 12 inches of rainfall over the next seven days that could also cause river and coastal flooding, according to the governor’s state of emergency. Widespread power outages should also be expected because of downed trees and powerlines.

Heavy rainfall could linger in Florida early next week, while also moving into parts of the Georgia and Carolina coasts, according to the Weather Channel. If it does stall over the state, it could cause heavy rainfall both along the coast and further inland.

“Some models still show the possibility of the system slowing down, stalling and doing loops in the northern half of the state,”Devitt wrote. “If that occurs, it would be a flooding concern for a portion of the state.”