TIMELINE: Debby live updates Aug. 4

Hurricane Debby is closing in on Florida. For live updates on Debby on Monday, click here.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News and scroll below for live updates:

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11 p.m. update

Debby is now a hurricane as it approaches the Northeastern Gulf Coast.

The track has shifted a bit west, meteorologist George Waldenberger said.

Hurricane #Debby Advisory 11: Debby Becomes a Hurricane as it Approaches the Northeastern Gulf Coast. Will Bring a Major Flood Threat to the Southeastern United States This Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 5, 2024

10 p.m. update

Photos pour in from across the state as Tropical Storm Debby approaches Florida.

See more below:

SEE: Tropical Storm Debby causes damage, flooding in Florida

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Hurricane Debby Cedar Key, FL—Cedar Key Fire Rescue said the number four bridge will remain closed until all hazards are removed. Officials said many roads on the island are still underwater. (Cedar Key Fire Rescue/Cedar Key Fire Rescue)

9 p.m. update

Debby’s winds are now up to 70 miles per hour, and the powerful tropical storm has shifted to the northeast.

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said that Debby will likely be close to Steinhatchee, Florida, before daybreak Monday.

Channel 9′s Shannon Butler will be there live on Eyewitness News at 10 on WRDQ TV 27 and Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 11.

Read: Tropical Storm Debby: Share your photos & video

8 p.m. update

A tornado warning issued for Brevard County has since expired.

But the National Weather Service has issued a new tornado watch for all of Central Florida that will last until 6 a.m. Monday.

It also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southern and coastal Volusia County.

Read: Tracking Debby: How to stay informed if your power goes out

The National Hurricane Center said that Debby slightly strengthened Sunday evening and is close to becoming a hurricane.

Hurricane Hunters are monitoring the storm and will have a track update at 11 p.m.

Tropical Storm Debby 8 p.m. update. (WFTV)

7:40 p.m. update

A tornado warning has been issued for Brevard County.

It is in effect until 8 p.m.

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry and certified meteorologist George Waldenberger are tracking conditions live in Severe Weather Center 9.

Terry said a tornadic waterspout is north of Port Canaveral.

He said water spouts typically do not last as long as tornadoes and are not as powerful.

Watch them live on Channel 9.

7 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Brevard County, including Titusville, Merritt Island and Rockledge.

The warning will last until 7:45 p.m.

Wind up to 60 miles per hour and pea-sized hail are possible.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Titusville FL, Merritt Island FL and Rockledge FL until 7:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/EhshqYVwuk
— NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) August 4, 2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that the state has taken steps to limit flooding.

“We have -- at the state level -- constructed more than 9,400 feet of flood protection devices to support critical infrastructure against flooding impacts,” he said.

DeSantis said that the state has set up those flood control barriers around utility substations, helping reduce power outages.

But there are already thousands of people without power from Miami to the Tampa Bay area.

DeSantis said that 3,000 service members of the Florida National Guard are on standby.

Florida has received approval for a federal disaster declaration.

Tropical Storm Debby: Longwood neighborhood sees more standing water Channel 9 visited Shadowbay in Seminole County, where neighbors are seeing more standing water as rain falls. (WFTV)

5 p.m. update

Debby is expected to become a hurricane Sunday evening, making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area Monday.

The tropical storm will bring a major flood threat to the southeastern United States.

Read: Tropical Storm Debby: These schools have announced closures

Certified meteorologist George Waldenberger said that the storm has not strengthened since this morning, but another Hurricane Hunter mission will determine if the storm is strengthening Sunday evening as expected.

“Debby is expected to become a hurricane tonight, with landfall as a high-end Category 1 tomorrow,” he said. “However, a Category 2 cannot be ruled out.”

The storm is moving north at 12 miles per hour.

Its maximum sustained winds are 65 miles per hour.

Click here to see live updates about Debby on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, and see the storm’s latest track below:

Tropical Storm Debby: See the 5 p.m. update Tropical Storm Debby is closing in on Florida. Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for the latest updates on its effects. (WFTV)

4:30 p.m. update

The University of Florida said that it will close its main campus in Gainesville on Monday because of Tropical Storm Debby, which is forecast to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane.

The school said that classes are canceled Monday -- both in-person and online -- as well as all academic and student-related activities and exams.

The university will announce Monday its plans to resume classes and normal campus operations.

Click here to read more about the closure.

3:46 p.m. update

The U.S. National Weather Service released a graphic illustrating the top wind gusts from across Central Florida. See it below.

NWS said many of the observations have occurred as a result of gusty rain bands and embedded storms.

Sunday's top wind gusts in Central Florida The United States National Weather Service shared Central Florida's top wind gusts Sunday as Tropical Storm Debby neared Florida. (WFTV)

Tropical Storm Debby: Expected to become a hurricane by this evening (WFTV)

2: 27 p.m. update

60MPH wind gusts possible with stronger cell passing Sanford, Lake Jessup, Geneva, Lake Harney areas. Severe t-storm warning Seminole/Volusia Co. until 230pm.
More quick warnings like this through the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/KbGRUokbmy
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) August 4, 2024

2 p.m. update

The storm is forecast to become a hurricane by this evening.

Outer bands are kicking up strong gusty squally showers that will continue off and on this afternoon.

Storms may become more frequent and a little stronger tonight.

Tornado watch still in effect through 8 p.m.

Flooding risk will progress tonight into tomorrow morning.

Tropical Storm #Debby Advisory 9A: Debby Expected to Strengthen Rapidly Into a Hurricane Before Making Landfall in the Big Bend Area of Florida. Major Flood Threat For the Southeastern United States. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 4, 2024

1:36 p.m. update

A Tornado Warning has been issued to Southwestern of Polk County.

12:50 p.m. update

Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Apopka, Winter Garden and Leesburg.

12: 49 p.m. update

According to Flagler County Emergency Management, Tropical Strom Debby is will bring 3 to 6 inches of rain.

Wind is expected to be at 15 to 25 miles per hour with gust up to 40.

Tracking Tropical Storm Debby (WFTV)

12:33 p.m. update

Certified Meteorologist Brian Shields said Tropical Storm Debby’s outer bands is making its way through Osceola and Orange County.

12:30 p.m. update

According to National Weather Service Melbourne, there is no major changes to local impacts in Brevard County.

Brevard County will see heavy rainfall leading to flooding and wind gusts to tropical storm force being the primary concerns.

11:02 a.m. update

A Tornado Watch is now up for Central Florida. The threat for isolated tornadoes will be higher for this afternoon, tonight, into tomorrow morning.

Tornado Watch for the following counties:

Flagler
Lake
Marion
Orange
Osceola
Polk
Seminole
Sumter
Volusia

11 a.m. update

Debby continues to strengthen.

Winds are now at 65 mph and it should reach hurricane strength tonight.

Tropical Storm #Debby Advisory 9: Debby Likely to Strengthen Rapidly Before Landfall in The Florida Big Bend Region. Major Flood Threat Looms Over the Southeastern United States. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 4, 2024

9:30 a.m. update

As expected, Debby is strengthening and may become a strong Cat1, even a Cat2 by landfall on Monday morning.

There’s also a ‘slight’ chance for it to get even stronger, but Channel 9 will be monitoring for rapid intensification.

The track is still west of Central Florida, but we’ll have increasing outer squally rain bands and isolated tornado threat Sunday into Monday.

Read: See where you can get sandbags in Central Florida

Sunday

The core of the storm is to the west, it will be a very tropical environment.

Those that get the rain bands could get 3 or more inches of rain, and a tornado risk.

Sunday night

Increased amount of rain band and tornado risk.

There will be heavier rain in Marion, Sumter, Lake and Polk counties.

Certified Meteorologist Brian Shields said these counties will passably see tropical storm conditions

Read: WATCH: National Hurricane Center chats in depth with Channel 9 about TS Debby

Monday mid-morning

This makes landfall in the Big Bend possibly as a cat2 hurricane, winds over 100mph are possible.

We will have some stronger rain bands in our western zones.

This will be our most active time into the afternoon.

Monday afternoon to Tuesday

With Debby to the north, we’ll see some feeder bands – which will still continue to give us a flood risk and tornado threat. Channel 9 is most concerned about the tornado threat.

Channel 9 meteorologists will continue to monitor the system and provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates: