Alerts Issued For Tropical Storm Debby

MIAMI (AP) — A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico has strengthened into Tropical Storm Debby. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say the storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph as it moves toward Florida. They predict it will become a hurricane before coming ashore. Debby is likely to bring drenching rain and coastal flooding to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Sunday night. Forecasters warn it also could drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina early next week. Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.