A tropical depression over Cuba is intensifying and is forecasted to bring significant rainfall and coastal flooding to much of Florida's Gulf Coast. The storm, which strengthened into a tropical depression late Friday, is anticipated to become a tropical storm by Saturday night, with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph (63 kph) or more. If it reaches tropical storm status, it will be named Debby, marking the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The circulation of the storm is currently located just south of Cienfuegos, Cuba, with associated wind and thunderstorms affecting southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts that the depression will intensify as it moves northward off the southwest coast of Florida, where warm water temperatures have provided favorable conditions for development.
Forecasts indicate that the system could make landfall as a strong tropical storm late Sunday or early Monday, crossing over northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for most of Florida's west coast and the Dry Tortugas, with a hurricane watch in effect for parts of the Big Bend region.
Florida, particularly its Gulf Coast, is susceptible to flooding, and the storm is expected to bring storm tides of 2 to 4 feet along most of the coast, with higher tides of 3 to 5 feet projected for the Big Bend region. The heavy rainfall associated with tropical storms and hurricanes could lead to river flooding, urban flooding, and overwhelmed drainage systems.
Residents in Florida have been preparing for the storm, with some cities distributing sandbags to mitigate potential flooding. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for most counties in the state, from the Florida Keys through Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region to the western Panhandle.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Carlotta off Mexico's western coast is moving westward into the Pacific Ocean, with sustained winds of 90 mph. The hurricane is expected to weaken as it encounters unfavorable conditions, eventually dissipating into a remnant of thunderstorms in the coming days.
