In an update issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Saturday, the tropical depression moving towards Florida's Gulf Coast has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Debby. With winds of 40 mph and a central pressure of 1007 mb, Debby is currently located over the southern Gulf of Mexico.

According to the NHC, Debby is expected to make landfall late Sunday or early Monday and then traverse northern Florida before heading into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm is likely to maintain its tropical storm status, posing a potential threat to Georgia and the Carolinas early next week.

The NHC has issued a tropical storm warning for several areas, including the Dry Tortugas, the west coast of the Florida peninsula from Boca Grande to south of Yankeetown, Tampa Bay, Sumter County, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge westward.

Additionally, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Lake and Polk counties, the Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge (including the Dry Tortugas), the southern coast of the Florida peninsula east of East Cape Sable to the Card Sound Bridge, and the west coast of the Florida peninsula from Aripeka to the mouth of the Suwannee River.

Residents in these warning and watch areas should take necessary precautions as tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 to 48 hours.

One of the primary concerns associated with Tropical Storm Debby is the potential for heavy rainfall, with the NHC warning of up to 15 inches of rain in certain parts of Florida. The exact timing of the rainfall and its impacts remain uncertain, as they depend on the speed and intensity of the storm.

Meteorologists are also keeping a close eye on another wave originating from the west coast of Africa. While the focus is currently on Debby, this additional wave could pose further challenges in the near future.

As the situation unfolds, stay tuned to the latest updates and forecasts from the First Warning Weather team at WESH 2. It is crucial to stay informed and prepared for the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Debby.