Slow-Moving Debby Soaks Florida

By the weekend, Tropical Storm Debby could be hovering in the Atlantic where it will strengthen, but most forecasters think once the storm passes Florida, the worst will be over.

But that's still several days away, and the Sunshine State may still endure more widespread flooding as Debby creeps across the state.

Today, the storm is still off the west coast of Florida as its outer bands punish Florida with widespread flooding, the National Hurricane Center reports.

So far, the virtually stationary storm has dumped up to 20 inches of rain in parts of Florida. Today, it could bring another 8 inches, forecasters predict. The storm may pelt the state with a combined 30 inches before making an exit.

Debby has kicked up other storms across the South, including several pockets of showers in the South Carolina Lowcountry. But local forecasters say they like current weather models that show Debby staying well off the coast once it finally passes Florida and enters the Atlantic.

Though it's creeping through the Gulf at just 3 mph, Debby is expected to reach the coast in the next day or two, according to the National Hurricane Center.