Tropical Storm Debby staying still

HOUSTON -

Tropical Storm Debby remained stationary as rain and winds hit the coast of the Florida Panhandle.

At 11 p.m. Sunday, Debby was at 28.3 North and 85.9 West, or about 200 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 110 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Florida.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that the tropical storm had stayed stationary for several hours Sunday. Little movement was expected in the coming days.

Debby had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with higher gusts.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Mississippi-Alabama border eastward to the Suwannee River in Florida.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for south of the Suwannee River to Englewood, Florida.

Some gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

There is great uncertainty with Debby’s path. The models are all over the place. The National Hurricane Center even admits the extreme challenge of forecasting Debby in its latest discussion. The NHC said the models continue to show inconsistencies.

“It is a very difficult and highly uncertain forecast. We must be ready to make a change of the forecast track at any time,” the National Hurricane Center said.

The NHC’s projected path of Debby has made a big shift since Saturday and could likely change even more.

Our Hurricane Expert, Bill Read, said he can’t remember a more difficult and challenging tropical storm to forecast in all of his years tracking tropical systems.

In Houston, we are expecting our first triple-digit day of the summer today. Afternoon highs will reach the century mark Sunday afternoon with plenty of sunshine A strong ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate our weather.

The start of the work week continues to stay hot. Monday will likely reach the triple-digits, too.

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