Tornado Watch Issued in Flagler, Volusia Counties

A tornado watch in Flagler and Volusia counties, initially issued on Sunday, has been extended until at least 4:00 pm Monday. The watch was put out as Hurricane Debby made its effects felt over much of Florida during its Monday landfall. Debby made landfall at around 7:00 am near Steinhatchee, a Gulf Coast city nearly straight west of St. Augustine. It has been measured as a Category 1 hurricane. A tornado watch, as defined by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), signifies that conditions are ideal for a tornado to form in a given area. When conditions elevate to a tornado warning, a twister has been detected and those in the affected area should seek shelter immediately. Almost the entire state of Florida is still under a state of emergency as of Monday due to Debby, which is hitting the state from the Gulf of Mexico and traveling to the northeast. Heavy rains and gusty winds are accounting for most of the impacts in the early hours of Debby’s landfall. In Flagler County, the most noticeable effects were erosion to the newly-installed beach renourishment on the south side of Flagler Beach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on offshore dredging to restore some of the area’s coastline, which has been chipped away at by coastal flooding and rising water levels. “The beach construction operation is on hold due to high seas,” said USACE Coastal Engineering Administrator Ansley Wren-Key. “The dredge will be back later this week when wave heights decrease to less than 5 feet. We are hoping that it will be Wednesday, but it all depends on Hurricane Debby and the wave and weather conditions.” The Flagler County Emergency Management Department advised on Monday that two to three inches of rain are expected by Wednesday, a lower estimate than the initial four to eight. Winds on Monday in Flagler are expected to reach 30 miles per hour consistently, with gusts up to 40 (a tropical storm level). A wind advisory is in effect in Flagler until Monday at 11:00 pm, as of Monday afternoon. The Volusia County Emergency Management Department is projecting slightly stronger elements for their area. Predictions include four to six inches of rain and winds up to 50 miles per hour. Residents traveling in Volusia County are advised to watch for flooded roadways and other driving hazards. In the event of residents losing power, the Florida Division of Emergency Management advises unplugging electronics and appliances to avoid surge damage, check for updates on the radio, and operate a generator 20 feet from the home. The usage of open flames during a power outage is highly discouraged.