Hurricane Debby Intensifies to Category 1, Set to Hit Gulf Coast with Heavy Rain and Surge

Former Tropical Storm Debby has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast Monday. The storm could bring up to 30 inches of rain to parts of the Southeast by week's end and pose a risk of dangerous storm surge. Hurricane warnings are in effect for a broad area from Valdosta, Georgia, to Dixie County, Florida, with tropical storm conditions anticipated along Florida's west coast, including Tampa and St. Petersburg. The storm's path remains subject to some uncertainty, with various forecast models providing different scenarios.