Tropical Storm Debby made landfall yesterday evening on the west coast of Florida some 150 miles to our northwest. This was the scene over still mostly dry Lake Theresa. Notice a small puddle has formed to the far right of the image. The puddle disappeared soon after this image was made.
The storm's landfall occurred near Steinhatchee, Florida. The forecast track is for the storm to move to the southeast across northern Volusia County tomorrow, emerging into the Atlantic Ocean somewhere around Ormond Beach.
TIPPING POINT?
It is shocking that after 10.00" (254 mm) of rain in June this is our lake's appearance. We received about 4.00" (101 mm) from the storm over the past 4 days and the only visible sign of change was a short-lived puddle. This scene begs the question of just how many straws Florida can allow to be stuck into its wetlands before the entire state starts to look like this.
Above: This is yesterday afternoon as the tropical storm was making landfall.
Below: This is the same spot in March of 2003, before Florida's most recent real estate boom.
Aside from the billions of gallons of missing water the only other difference is that my cameras are much better in 2012 than they were in 2003.
FORECAST FOR TROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Debby is now a tropical depression with winds of about 30 mph. The storm's upper-level circulation is being stretched out into the Atlantic by the same steering forces that will transport the storm to the other side of Florida, and this combined with dry air has led to a messy-looking tropical cyclone over the past couple of days.
The storm will likely lose more strength as it moves across Florida through Wednesday, but it could gain some strength again when it reaches the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. The official forecast is for Debby to regain Tropical Storm strength in a couple of days.
Above: Looking out at the nearly dry lake yesterday afternoon.
Below: The scene in January of 2010 when the lake was low but still held substantially more water than today.
Below: On the left side of the image is the visible satellite with Debby's center clearly discernible approaching the Big Bend of Florida. On the right: Water vapor satellite imagery, where the dry air ranges from black to rusty orange. Debby's center is almost completely devoid of moisture.
