ATLANTA — Debby made landfall Monday morning along Florida's Big Bend as an expected Category 1 storm. It had weakened by 11 a.m. ET to a tropical storm as it continues to make its way toward Georgia.
Confidence in the long-range forecast is much lower, but models are in fairly good agreement of the storm slowing down and briefly stalling over south Georgia. This could lead to heavy rain and flooding.
Debby live updates
11:30 p.m. | President Joe Biden declared that an emergency exists in Georgia and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts due to emergency conditions from now-tropical storm Debby beginning on Aug. 4.
This authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance, according to a release.
In addition, Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures -- limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care like evacuation and shelter support will be provided at 75% for the following counties:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth.
11:15 p.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn gives an update about how the storm is affecting Savannah,
11:00 p.m. | Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said on Facebook that the city is planning multiple street closures ahead of the anticipated historic flooding. It is asked that people do not drive down flooded streets or remove barricades.
Below are the following street closures:
- 52nd from Montgomery to Exchange
- 51st from Hopkins to Stevens
- Anderson at Paulsen
- Henry from Atlantic to E. Broad
- Paulsen from 63rd to 60th
- Victory from Waters to Cedar
- Victory at MLK
- E. Lathrop at Louisville
- Jefferson from 38th to 39th
- Abercorn from 63rd to 66th
- Grove from Anderson to 31st
- Newell from Lathrop to Glass
- Magazine from Feeley to Cornwall
- Ferrill from Exley to Bay
- Habersham from Columbus Lane to 63rd
- Jefferson at 34th
- 60th from Reynolds to Battey
- 37th at MLK
- Thackery from Sylvan to Oakview
For the latest map of flood-prone areas and current road closures, click here.
8:47 p.m. | The City of Marietta shared on Facebook that a crew from the Marietta Power & Water Warehouse will head to Moultrie, Georgia to assist with electrical restoration needs caused by the storm.
7:55 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp's office said in a news release Monday he has instructed Georgia Emergency Management staff to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) over the weekend. State agencies are monitoring the storm as it moves across the state.
“Working closely with state agencies, local leaders and emergency response teams, Georgia is preparing for whatever Tropical Storm Debby may bring and its aftermath,” Kemp said in the release. “As the week progresses, we will continue monitoring the storm's path and impact to meet the needs of Georgians affected by this major storm system. I want to thank Director Stallings, his team, and all response agency personnel who are working around the clock to help keep their fellow Georgians safe during this weather event."
Kemp also plans to visit the SOC Tuesday morning to conduct a briefing.
7:40 p.m. | A 19-year-old reportedly died after a tree fell on a home in south Georgia Monday as Tropical Storm Debby continued its impact. The Moultrie Observer reported that the Moultrie police chief confirmed the death, saying it happened at a home along 13th Avenue SW. Read more here.
6:10 p.m. | The City of Savannah will have a curfew tonight beginning at 10 p.m. that will last until Tuesday, August 6, at 6 a.m. 11Alive's Cody Alcorn reports on the tornado warning issued for the area that's in effect until 6:30 p.m.
5 p.m. | Debby is moving northeast at 6 miles per hour with winds of about 50 miles per hour. It's currently near southeast Georgia. Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb explains the potential impacts to the state.
1:50 p.m. | Vice President Kamala Harris will be canceling her visit to Savannah due to the storm, according to her campaign.
11:00 a.m. | In the latest National Hurricane Center update, Debby has been downgraded to a tropical storm.
At this time Debby is about 120 miles south of Valdosta and 25 miles west of Lake City, Florida. According to NHC, it is moving north-northeast at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
NHC adds:
A gradual decrease in forward speed with a turn toward the east is expected later today and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center will move across southeastern Georgia tonight and Tuesday, and move offshore of the South Carolina coast by late Tuesday and Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center. An observing station at Live Oak East recently reported a wind gust to 54 mph (87 km/h). A WeatherFlow site near the entrance to the St. Johns River in Jacksonville reported a wind gust to 48 mph (77 km/h) during the last hour.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 983 mb (29.03 inches).
9:50 a.m. | Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has called up 2,000 Georgia National Guard troops to aid in the response to Debby.
8:45 a.m. | You can re-watch 11Alive Meteorologist Chesley McNeil's last update at 7:30 a.m. in the video player above this story or in the YouTube player just above here.
8:00 a.m. | Latest National Hurricane Center advisory says Debby is just inland of the Florida Big Bend region, still with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It is moving north-northeast at 10 mph.
Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida about an hour ago.
The NHC further adds:
A gradual decrease in forward speed with a turn toward the northeast and east is expected later today and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center will slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia today and Tuesday, and be near the Georgia coast by Tuesday night.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected as Debby moves over land today and tonight.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). A wind gust to 62 mph (100 km/h) was reported at Madison County High School within the last hour.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 979 mb (28.91 inches).
7:00 a.m. | The National Hurricane Center reports Debby has made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida.
NHC adds: "Data from the Hurricane Hunters indicate that the minimum pressure at landfall was around 979 mb (28.91 in) and the maximum winds were estimated to be around 80 mph (130 km/h)."
5:30 a.m. | In south Georgia, a Hurricane warning is in effect for Lowndes County, including Valdosta, as well as Brooks, Lanier, Echols and Clinch counties. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for numerous counties.
5 a.m. | In the most recent National Hurricane Center advisory published at 5 a.m., the NHC said Debby was "very near landfall in the Florida Big Bend."
Debby has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and it is moving north-northeast at 10 mph. The storm was about 45 miles northwest of Cedar Key, Florida and 70 miles south-southeast of Tallahassee.
Debby is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge in portions of Florida and major flooding in the southeastern United States."
A storm surge warning is in effect for the Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay and for the Georgia and South Carolina coast from the mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida coast from Yankeetown to Indian Pass.
The NHC adds: "On the forecast track, the center will reach the Florida Big Bend coast later this morning. Debby is then expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia late today and Tuesday, and be near the Georgia coast by Tuesday night."
Further: "Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)."