Hurricane Debby (2024)
Category 1 Atlantic hurricane / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hurricane Debby was a slow-moving and erratic Category 1 hurricane that caused widespread flooding across the Southeastern United States in early August 2024. The fourth named storm and second hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Debby developed from a tropical wave that was first noted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on July 26. After crossing the Greater Antilles, the system began to organize over Cuba and was designated a potential tropical cyclone on August 2. After exiting off the southern coast of Cuba, the disturbance organized into a tropical depression early on August 3. Later that day, it became a tropical storm in the Florida Straits, being named Debby. It moved northwards and gradually intensified into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, early on August 5. Debby weakened once inland and began to slow down while over the Southeastern United States, causing widespread flooding from heavy rain. It re-emerged in the Atlantic on August 7 before slowly moving northwards again, making landfall in South Carolina early on August 8 before weakening and becoming post-tropical the next day.
Meteorological history | |
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Formed | August 3, 2024 |
Post-tropical | August 9, 2024 |
Category 1 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 979 mbar (hPa); 28.91 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 10 total |
Damage | <$28 billion (2024 USD) |
Areas affected |
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[1][2] | |
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season |
States of emergency were declared for the states of Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina ahead of the storm. Heavy rains fell as a result of the storm moving slowly, with accumulations peaking near 20 inches (51 cm) of rain near Sarasota, Florida as of August 7. Two dozen tornadoes were confirmed as the storm moved up the East coast of the United States as well. Ten fatalities have been attributed to the storm so far, and preliminary damage reports are estimated to be up to $28 billion.