<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3tYRoU_0unGL4ZW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tYRoU_0unGL4ZW00" width="1280" height="1280" ><figcaption>Debby (shown here on Sunday afternoon) strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane late Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to hit Florida's Big Bend region on Monday. Most of Debby's worst weather is on the northern and eastern side of its center. National Weather Service</figcaption></figure>Debby is now a hurricane, and it is on a course to hit Florida on Monday, according to forecasters. Debby was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds on Sunday night and was expected to strengthen more before landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.The storm is expected to make landfall on Monday morning somewhere in Florida’s Big Bend region.Here’s the hurricane center’s track forecast for Debby as of 10 p.m. Sunday:<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3TeHmu_0unGL4ZW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3TeHmu_0unGL4ZW00" width="1280" height="1050" ><figcaption>Debby strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane late Sunday. Above is the National Hurricane Center's forecast track as of 10 p.m. Sunday. Debby is expected to hit Florida's Big Bend region on Monday. National Hurricane Center</figcaption></figure>Will Debby have any impact on Alabama?Southeast Alabama will be the closest to Debby’s path and may get some wind and rain from the storm as it makes landfall, according to the National Weather Service.But Alabama’s coastal areas will have no direct effects from the storm except for an increase in the rip current risk, according to forecasters.Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Mobile stressed that beachgoers not take the rip current risk lightly, saying “PLEASE listen to lifeguards and pay attention to beach flags this week.”North and central Alabama are not expected to feel any effects from the storm.There were no tropical watches or warnings in effect for any part of Alabama as of Sunday night.Most of Debby’s rain is expected to fall to the east of where the center makes landfall. The weather service’s forecast shows southeast Alabama getting only a half-inch to an inch of rain from the storm:<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2ZFO6k_0unGL4ZW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ZFO6k_0unGL4ZW00" width="1280" height="960" ><figcaption>Southeast Alabama is not expected to get a lot of rain from Debby. NWS</figcaption></figure>Rain chances for southeast Alabama are expected to climb starting and it will be breezy. The weather service said winds on Monday could be higher as Debby makes landfall, sustained at 20 mph and gusting up to 30 mph.As Debby approaches tonight there will be an increased risk of rip currents along the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches. A moderate risk went into effect Sunday night and will last into Tuesday night:<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Xj1pv_0unGL4ZW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Xj1pv_0unGL4ZW00" width="1280" height="996" ><figcaption>A moderate risk for rip currents will begin tonight for Alabama and northwest Florida coastal areas. NWS</figcaption></figure>The weather service in Mobile said forecasters are not expecting much from Debby for southwest Alabama outside of increasing waves and rip currents at the beaches.In fact, Debby will help bring some drier air and lower humidity to southwest Alabama as it closes in on the Florida coast.Some isolated rain and storms will be possible through Tuesday for southwest Alabama and the western Panhandle.</div></body>

NewsBreak

Hurricane Debby: What can Alabama expect?

Debby is now a hurricane, and it is on a course to hit Florida on Monday, according to forecasters. Debby was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds on Sunday night and was expected to strengthen more before landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm...