This morning, Debby continues as a minimal hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. At 8 am this morning, Debby was off the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, about 140 miles southeast of Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 16 mph. This motion is expected to continue with a gradual slowing of the storm's forward motion in the next 24 hours. Little change in strength is forecast for the next 24 hours, while slow strengthening is forecast beyond 36 hours. There are currently no tropical storm watches or warnings posted for U.S. concerns.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for portions of the Bahamas and other jurisdictions in the area.
Flash flood watches are in effect for Puerto Rico as showers continue in the wake of Debby. In the official forecast, by early Saturday morning Debby's core is expected to be approaching the southeast coast of Florida as a Category II storm with maximum sustained winds near 105 mph. In the forecast, tropical storm force winds may begin to affect the Florida coastline by late afternoon Friday, with hurricane force winds arriving near or just before midnight on Friday. It should be noted, however, that models are beginning to suggest a more westward track for the storm. Several are showing the storm moving through the Florida straits into the Gulf of Mexico.