Tropical Storm Debby: Live Blog

Tropical Storm Debby continues to impact the Tampa Bay region, including roads, bridges, businesses, and more. The live blog below will be updated with the latest information as it becomes available.

4:15 p.m.:
Mayor of Crystal River Joe Meek gives update on roads and flooding

4:09 p.m.:
Truck being pulled from the floodwaters on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa.

4:08 p.m.:
Water rescues are expected to continue throughout the day and into the evening in Sarasota, according to the Sarasota Police Department.

3:14 p.m.:
The 2 inside northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge are now OPEN. The 2 outside lanes will remain closed until further notice.

2:25 p.m.:
The wind from Debby caused 70 pounds of cocaine to blow onto a beach in the Florida Keys.

2:20 p.m.:

The City of Tampa said the Tampa Riverwalk is flooding from tidal storm surge. Residents are advised to avoid the area.

2:03 p.m.:
People kayaking in flood waters in the Pinecraft area in Sarasota County.

1:42 p.m.:
The Florida Department of Transportation has closed Curlew at Alt. 19 in Tarpon Springs.

1:15 p.m.:
National Weather Service meteorologists provided the following numbers on some of the highest rain totals in the last 48 hours, ending at 9:25 a.m. Monday

Citrus County:

• 5 miles WSW of Floral City - 7.04 inches

Hernando County:

• 3 miles east southeast of Spring Hill - 6.77 inches

Hillsborough County:

• Sun City Center - 11.11 inches
• 3.9 miles ENE of Ruskin - 10.54 inches

Manatee County:

• 3.5 miles east of Lakewood Ranch - 16.56 inches
• Parrish - 14.66 inches
• Sarasota/Bradenton airport - 12.43 inches
• 5.9 miles NE of Sarasota - 12.38 inches
• DeSoto Lakes - 12.03 inches

Pasco County:

• Wesley Chapel - 8.96 inches
• Holiday - 8.55 inches

Pinellas County:

• Pinellas Park - 12.11 inches
• St. Pete - 10.34 inches
• Clearwater Beach - 10.25 inches

Polk County:

• Auburndale - 11.14 inches

Sarasota County:

• Siesta Key - 12.57 inches
• East of Vamo - 12.29 inches
• Sarasota -- 10.82 inches

1:02 p.m.:
The National Weather Service said many area rivers are in flood stage with some approaching record levels. Forecasters said additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible with some areas seeing up to 5 inches.

National Weather Service

12:25 p.m.:
The Sarasota Sheriff's Office said Tropical Storm Debby dumped an estimated 9.25" of rain in the county on Sunday. Rain continues and flooded roads are being reported across the county. The Sarasota Sheriff's Office asked residents to "please stay off the roads."

11:42 a.m.:

Sarasota Sheriff said Fruitville Road, east of I-75, is NOT possible. It is at the S-curve. The closest cross street would be Annie Laurie. Please avoid this area.

11:21 a.m.:

According to reporter Jessica DeLeon, Sarasota PD currently doing high water rescues in the Pinecraft Amish community and Phillippi Creek area

11:05 a.m.
Hurricane Debby is downgraded to a Tropical Storm.

11 a.m.
Southern Manatee County Fire Rescue conducts high water rescue at Centre Lake Subdivision in Manatee County.

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue

10:55 a.m.
Sarasota County said all offices will remain closed through Monday due to rain and flooding in the area.

10:35 a.m.
Full list of road closures in Sarasota County:

• Pinebrook Rd at Edmundson Rd
• River Rd at Center Rd
• McIntosh Rd south of King Richard
• Beneva Rd south of Legacy Trail
• McIntosh Rd at Bahia Vista St
• Clark Rd at Beneva Rd
• Clark Rd at Vamo Rd
• Beneva Rd between Clark and 41
• Fruitville east of I-75 to Oakford
• Myrtle Ave at Tuttle Ave
• Bee Ridge at Honore Ave
• Center Gate Blvd at Wilkinson Rd
• Swift Rd at Wilkinson Rd
• Proctor Rd at Honore Ave
• Bee Ridge Rd at Center Gate Blvd
• Tuttle Ave at Southgate Circle
• Northgate Blvd
• Siesta Key
• Tuttle Ave at Bahia Vista St
• Proctor Rd at Suncoast Technical School

10:19 a.m.

The City of Venice said the following roads are closed due to flooding:

• Harbor Dr. heading to Caspersen Beach
• Golden Beach Blvd. from Everglades to Villas Dr.
• Villas Dr. from Golden Beach Blvd. to Hibiscus, Gardenia, Flamingo drives
• Park Blvd.
• The Esplanade
• Tarpon Center Dr.
• Gene Green Rd.
• Parkdale Dr.
• Pinebrook Rd.

9:52 a.m.
Tampa International Airport said it remains open and operational, but periods of high winds, heavy rains, and lightning are causing pauses in flight operations. Delays and cancellations are expected to increase on Monday TPA officials said. Additionally, FAA delay programs are in effect across Florida and the Southeast, which could cause additional delays and cancellations.

Passengers should stay in contact with their airlines for the latest flight status updates.

9:29 a.m.
A tree blocks Wheeler Road at Oakdale Street in Hillsborough County. Officials are asking drivers to use alternate routes in the meantime.

HCSO

9:24 a.m.
Waves lap against a beached boat in Gulfport near Shore Boulevard.

9:10 a.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol shared a video of waves crashing across the Howard Frankland Bridge. The bridge remains closed as portions of the shoulder and roadway washed out on the Hillsborough side of the span.

Florida Highway Patrol

8:42 a.m.
Roadway closed after damage from Debby on Harbor Dr. at Caspersen Beach in Venice.

City of Venice

City of Venice

8:18 a.m.
The city of North Port said all offices and facilities will be closed Monday, including parks and community centers. Garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk pickups will continue as scheduled.

8:13 a.m.
Caralyn Calaway Williams, the wife of Horseshoe Bend Mayor Jeff Williams, shared some live video as Hurricane Debby moved near their home.

8:04 a.m.

Clearwater Police are reporting that their phone lines are down. If you need contact them for a non-emergency, you can call one of the following numbers: 727-336-0475, 727-336-0213 and 727-336-0514.

If you have an emergency, call 911.

8 a.m.

Governor DeSantis provides an update after Hurricane Debby's landfall.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office shares a photo of flooding at Shore Line Boulevard and Eagles Nest Road.

Hernando County Sheriff's Office

7:45 a.m.:
Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to a strip mall fire just before 3:30 a.m. Monday. Fire was seen coming through the roof and spread throughout the entire attic due to high winds at the time. Fire fighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.

WFTS

Hernando County Fire Rescue

7:00 a.m.:
Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee in the Florida Big Bend around 7 a.m. Monday morning. Maximum sustained winds were near 80 miles per hour when the storm made landfall.

6:30 a.m.:
Scripps News reporter Forrest Saunders reports from Perry, where conditions are ramping up.

5 a.m.:
Howard Frankland Bridge closes northbound lanes due to water.

The City of New Port Richey is closing all city offices, the library and the recreation & aquatic center on Monday, Aug. 5, due to Debby.

According to PowerOutage.us, over 100,000 Floridians are without power.

SUNDAY
11:00 p.m.:
Debby has been upgraded from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane Debby was located about 100 miles WNW of Tampa and was moving north at 12 miles per hour. The system had maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour with higher gusts.

10:17 p.m.:
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers are closing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to high winds and inclement weather from Tropical Storm Debby.

10:13 p.m.:
Flooding impacts the parking lot at The Standard Apartments in Clearwater.

10:11 p.m.:
A downed tree and power line at Timberwood Drive and Whippoorwill Drive in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

9:36 p.m.:
The USF St. Petersburg campus will be closed on Monday due to ongoing impacts from Tropical Storm Debby, the school announced on Facebook. Operations at the USF Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will continue as normal on Monday.

8:52 p.m.:
Tampa International Airport has lifted its ground stop and is now in a ground delay. Departures from TPA are delayed by an average of 271 minutes due to thunderstorms in the area.

8:47 p.m.:
Pictures provided by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office show flooding impacting the area, including a car stuck in the water.

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office 

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

8:30 p.m.:
According to Pinellas County's Department of Emergency Management, wind gusts of up to 62 MPH were just measured at Albert Whitted Airport. Officials said frequent gusts above 45 MPH are occurring across parts of the county.

8:16 p.m.:
Pictures provided by Oldsmar Fire Rescue show significant flooding in Oldsmar.

Oldsmar Fire Rescue

Oldsmar Fire Rescue

8:06 p.m.:
Water is rising at the 300 block of South Gulfview Boulevard on Clearwater Beach amid the winds and surge from Tropical Storm Debby.

7:47 p.m.:
A tree blocks a section of NE Coachman Road in Clearwater.

Tim Hart

7:34 p.m.:
Portions of Gulf Boulevard in Treasure Island remain flooded.

7:11 p.m.:
SAFETY HARBOR | According to ABC Action News photojournalist Brad Davis, the northern tip of the bay is about to spill onto Bayshore in Safety Harbor, about a half mile south of downtown.

7:08 p.m.:
Satellite animation of Tropical Storm Debby as it continues to move north.

NOAA

6:21 p.m.:
All Hillsborough County and Pinellas County offices will be open on Monday. Pinellas County parks will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday.

5:42 p.m.:
Clearwater Police warning about storm-related debris on the roads. Power pole down at 1700 block of Great Brikhill Road in Clearwater.

5:32 p.m.:
Busch Gardens announced on social media that the park is closed today due to severe weather from Tropical Storm Debby and will reopen tomorrow at 10 a.m.

4:55 p.m.:
Pasco County officials set up an online tool to report storm damage following Tropical Storm Debby. Access the tool here.

4:35 p.m.:
Not even Tropical Storm Debby can stop a fisherman. We caught this one in Johns Pass.

4:30 p.m.:
The University of Florida will close its Gainesville campus on Monday, including classes, academic and student-related activities, online classes,k, and exams.

4:15 p.m.:
Governor DeSantis talks to capitol reporter Forrest Saunders about Florida's response to Tropical Storm Debby

4:09 p.m.:
Governor Ron DeSantis addressed Florida residents on the threats from Tropical Storm Debby and what the state is doing to help the state recover once the storm passes.

4:08 p.m.:

Flooding in St. Pete Beach is having a major impact on Casablanca Avenue and Maritana Drive.

4:00 p.m.:
The video below shows flooding in Treasure Island on Gulf Boulevard between 105th and 107th Avenue. Currently, only one northbound lane is open on that stretch of road.

3:20 p.m.:
A car gets crushed by tree in Dunedin.

Dunedin Fire Rescue

Dunedin Fire Rescue

2:58 p.m.:
Waves going over wall on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa.

2:38 p.m.:
Surfers taking advantage of the waves in Indian Rocks Beach.

2:30 p.m.:
The average delay at Tampa International Airport is 271 minutes.

2:23 p.m.:
Roads closed near Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks.

Tarpon Springs Police Deparment

2:12 p.m.:
All non-essential Hernando County Government Offices will be closed on Monday.

2:10 p.m.:
Pinellas County asked residents and businesses to report damages to ensure all damage is accounted
for.

• Residents can report damages at this link
• Businesses report damages at this link

Both reporting tools are available in the Ready Pinellas app

1:56 p.m.:
Check the latest power outages from Tropical Storm Debby here.

1:45 p.m.:
Bayshore Boulevard from Platt Street until Bay to Bay Blvd is closed, per Tampa Police
Citrus County School District has closed all offices for Monday, August 5
Dunedin Trash and Recycling

• Tuesday and Wednesday residential customers will be picked up Wednesday

Tampa International AirportThe airport remains operational, but multiple flights have been delayed or canceled.
Busch Gardens

• Will reopen on Monday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m.

Still Open:

• Sunshine Skyway Bridge
• Courtney Campbell Causeway

1:30 p.m.:
Satellite animation of Tropical Storm Debby

NOAA