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Debby Changes Track, Stays Close to Florida

Forecast to hit panhandle on Thursday, disrupting oil production

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 25, 2012 1:29 AM CDT | Updated Jun 25, 2012 2:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Tropical Storm Debby slowly closed in on Florida last night, leaving one person dead in tornadoes spawned by its winds, and one man missing and presumed drowned at an Alabama beach, reports Reuters. The National Hurricane Center reported significant changes for Debby's predicted path. No longer expected to grow to hurricane strength and head west, Debby is now scheduled to make landfall on the Florida panhandle on Thursday, where it could dump up to 15 inches of rain. The storm has already shut down close to a quarter of Gulf oil and gas production, and that could grow worse as Debby moves into some of the most oil-prolific parts of the region.

High winds, high tide strike at the main street of Cedar Key, Fla., as Tropical Storm Debby makes it's way across the Gulf of Mexico early yesterday.
High winds, high tide strike at the main street of Cedar Key, Fla., as Tropical Storm Debby makes it's way across the Gulf of Mexico early yesterday.   (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Cedar Key Police Chief Virgil Sandlin steps onto a section of a floating dock to secure it as strong storm surge and flooding are felt from Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key, Fla., yesterday.
Cedar Key Police Chief Virgil Sandlin steps onto a section of a floating dock to secure it as strong storm surge and flooding are felt from Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key, Fla., yesterday.   (AP Photo/The Gainesville Sun, Brad McClenny)
Surfer Hank Parker heads out to catch waves in Dauphin Island, Ala., yesterday.
Surfer Hank Parker heads out to catch waves in Dauphin Island, Ala., yesterday.   (AP Photo/Mobile Register, Mike Kittrell)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
boxcar
Jun 26, 2012 8:04 PM CDT
When Debby first formed up as a tropical storm in the Gulf, they said it would move up Florida's west coast then traverse westward along the gulf coast states on into Texas- Here in SW US we knew it wouldn't happen because AZ, NM, TX  have a traditional high pressure heat wave in June that would block anything coming from East so by July our traditional monsoon starts up pulling moisture north from the Gulfs of Mexico & California.
US

 
Florida • Gulf of Mexico • Tropical Storm • offshore oil • tornadoes • Tropical Storm Debby

 
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