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As Tropical Storm Debby gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, Southwest Florida felt the effects of the passing storm.

Areas of Collier County experienced heavy rain squalls from Debby's outer bands, and the surf was rough along the coast. Streets were flooded and closed in Naples and Marco Island. Everglades City was flooded.

Tropical storm force winds extended 140 miles outward from the center of the storm.

The tropical weather stirred up thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes in Collier County prompting tornado watches and warnings. A Tornado Watch remained in effect until 8 p.m. The Topical Storm warning was cancelled Sunday evening.

Live radar: See the storm's bands at roar through Collier County

Here are the latest updates from Collier, Naples, Marco Island, Isle of Capri, Everglades City, Goodland

6:30 p.m. Everglades City under water once again

5 p.m.: Marco, Goodland, feel impacts of Debby's surge, rain, winds

Marco Island and Goodland were pummeled by Tropical Storm Debby Sunday, flooding most streets, stranding some motorists and throwing debris. At least one tornado warning was issued for the area. Lighting, thunder and high winds came with the Atlantic's fourth-named storm of the season.

"We've helped some people out and we’ve driven a couple of people home," said Marco Island Fire Chief Chris Byrne. "We have our high-water vehicle out."

Read the full story: Marco Island, Goodland roads under water

— J. Kyle Foster

4:59 p.m.: Tornado Warning issued for Collier

A Tornado Warning has been issued for southwestern Collier County until 5:15 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm near Cape Romano, moving northeast at 40 mph, has radar-indicated rotation and is capable of producing a tornado.

Areas impacted include Marco Island, Belle Meade and Fiddlers Creek.

The National Weather Service advises residents to take cover immediately in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows and stay indoors. Torrential rainfall is also occurring, which may lead to flash flooding. Avoid driving through flooded roadways.

4:41 p.m.: Collier Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 6 p.m.

A Flash Flood Warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. for western Collier County.

Doppler radar detected a feeder band moving into the Naples area from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain on top of the 7 to 10 inches that have already fallen, according to the National Weather Service.

Flash flooding is ongoing, affecting areas such as Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate Estates and others. Residents should be aware of flash flooding in small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets and low-lying regions.

4:30 p.m. Isle of Capri, like all of coastal Collier County, felt Debby's hit

Canal's filled to the brim and streets flooded, in video:

And photos:

3 p.m. Debby whips up the surf at Bonita Beach: Video

2:49 p.m.: Flooded roads in the city of Naples

Here are areas in Naples impacted by flooding Sunday afternoon:

Please stay off the roads until the storm passes and water recedes.

2:25 p.m.: CCSO shares Collier road closures

CCSO shared the following road closures throughout Collier County due to flooding from the tropical storm:

1:42 p.m.: Collier County road closures

Collier County crews are actively monitoring road conditions due to Tropical Storm Debby, according to a press release Sunday. Collier County advised people to avoid using roadways if possible and use caution, as flooding may increase with high tides.

The following roads are closed due to high tide and flooded roadways:

Report any flooding to 239-252-8924.

12:45 p.m.: Tornado Warning issued for Collier County

At 12:45 p.m., severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes were detected along a line from West Toll Gate on Alligator Alley to Orangetree, moving north at 20 mph. The warning is in place until 1 p.m.

Impacted locations include Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate Estates and nearby areas.

Residents should take cover immediately and stay away from windows.

Heavy rainfall may obscure the tornado, so the National Weather Services advises people against waiting to see or hear it. Torrential rain could also lead to flash flooding, of which a warning is already issued for Collier.

12 p.m.: Flash Flood Warning issued for Collier County

Shortly after noon Sunday, Doppler radar detected thunderstorms producing heavy rain, with up to 4 inches already fallen. Rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour are expected, with an additional 2 to 6 inches possible. Flash flooding is occurring or expected soon. The warning is in place until 6 p.m. Sunday.

Locations affected include Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate Estates and surrounding areas.

The National Weather Service advises people to avoid driving on flooded roads, as most flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Where is Tropical Storm Debby in relation to Naples, Collier County?

The National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. Sunday advisory showed the storm in the southeastern Gulf, just southwest of the Lee and Collier County coastlines, with tropical storm force winds reaching the Southwest Florida coast.

What is the Sunday weather forecast for Naples, Collier County as Debby passes?

The National Weather Service showed this forecast:

For inland Collier County, including Naples:

For coastal Collier County:

Contributing: J. Kyle Foster, Andrew West, Liz Freeman, Diana Biederman, Jonah Hinebaugh

Tropical Storm Debby is set to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday morning in the northern part of Florida, but that does not mean Southwest Floridians are not enduring any severe weather conditions.

In Fort Myers Beach, wet and windy conditions Sunday evening knocked over a small structure and pushed sand up onto the roads.

During the course of the rain the beach could not be seen.

There was sand in the middle of Fort Myers Beach Times Square due to the rain pushing the sand toward the area.

Earlier in the morning, WINK News reporter Camila Pereira commented on the choppiness of the ocean water, with waves sighted from the coastline and shared the photos below.

Pereira also reported slight ponding on shore.

Collier County experienced some of the first impacts from the storm. In Naples, scattered rain has been reported along with slight coastal ripples.

As weather conditions worsen, roadway flooding in Naples has been reported.

WINK News reporter Annalise Iraola took photos of flooding on Gulfshore Boulevard.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook account about road flooding on Gulf Shore Drive between Vanderbilt Beach Road and Bluebill Avenue.

Motorists are advised to find alternative routes to avoid stalling in flood water.

In downtown Punta Gorda, all streets east and west of U.S. 41 were closed by authorities due to flooding at around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Another concern for Southwest Floridians is keeping the electricity going during and after a storm hits our area.

WINK News spoke with a Lee County Electric Cooperative representative regarding preparations in lieu of storm impacts.

“I think one of the things that we focus on is the communication aspect of it,” said LCEC representative Karen Ryan. “We have an outage map on LCEC.net so customers can see where the outages are occurring and they will be confident that we are aware of it and that crews are out there working and on the way. They can also watch as power gets restored, so communication was a very big part of it.”

WINK News will continue its coverage of Tropical Storm Debby and any further impacts it may have on our area.

If you have any pictures of the storm’s impact, send them to us through the WINK News tips page.

Tropical Depression Four exited the Cuba area late Saturday morning and moved into the Florida straits on Saturday afternoon, said Ana Torres-Vasquez, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Miami who oversees Collier County.

By Saturday evening, the depression had developed into Tropical Storm Debby and entered the Gulf of Mexico.

Bands of heavy rain were predicted to start locally Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

TS Debby was expected travel through the Gulf toward the Florida Panhandle, gaining strength as it moved across extremely warm waters.

For Southwest Florida the forecast for tropical storm-force winds exceeding 39 mph at times was predicted for Sunday morning.

Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City, Collier County Tropical Storm Debby watches and warnings. What to expect:

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, Collier was under a Tropical Storm Warning.

The National Weather Service predicted:

Fort Myers, Lee County Tropical Storm Debby watches and warnings. What to expect:

As of Saturday evening, a Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch were in effect for coastal Lee County. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect of inland Lee.

The forecast called for:

Matt Anderson, a meteorologist at the NWS in Ruskin, which cover the Fort Myers-Lee County area, said the storm seemed to be veering more to the west Saturday morning.

Saturday morning's advisory from the National Hurricane Center showed the storm's predicted track to be in the Gulf off the Southwest Florida coast Sunday morning.

Conditions in Collier and Lee could see improvement by Sunday evening, Aug. 4 into early Monday.

How will tropical storm impact other areas of Florida?

The storm was expected to continue strengthening over the eastern Gulf of Mexico through the weekend.

Upgraded to Tropical Depression Four late Friday, the weather system was forecast to make landfall in the Big Bend region of the state early Monday as a strong tropical storm with 70 mph winds.

But National Hurricane Center senior hurricane specialist Jack Bevan said in his forecast that it's possible the cyclone could be "at hurricane strength as it reaches the northern Gulf Coast." A Category 1 hurricane begins at 74 mph.

AccuWeather lead hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva said Friday that if the system leans toward the left, or the western edge of the forecast track cone, it would have more time to fuel up on the incredibly warm waters of the Gulf.

“It might be strengthening all the way up until it makes landfall, DaSilva said. “If it rides the western portion of the cone, there is nothing to slow the strengthening other than it hitting land.”

Pro tips for protecting your home from tropical weather

William Valaitis is a go-to handyman in Naples who said to make sure doors and windows are securely closed and locked. Screen doors too.

For those with generators, ensure it’s elevated in the garage and not on the floor.

To protect your air conditioner, Mark Evans, Speedy Air Conditioning’s COO, said if you notice lights flickering in the house, it’s time to turn the breakers off and wait until the power is restored before turning it back on.

If you don’t know exactly where the breaker is, turn off the unit’s interior thermostat and use fans.

“The biggest issue is the power problems,” when heavy items cause power lines to fall, resulting in surges.

How local businesses prepared

Mick Moore of Vanderbilt Beach Resort and The Turtle Club said his hotel and restaurant will remain open over the weekend.

“We always call restaurant guests to confirm reservations, and we advise them if rain is expected. If we can move outside reservations inside, we do, but if the inside is fully committed, we let those with outside reservations know that we cannot guarantee a seat inside and that they may want to come another time,” said Moore.

On Friday, his team started securing items that might be affected by tropical storm winds.

The resort's restaurant reopened to patrons on May 6 after nearly two years of refurbishment. It has hurricane-impact glass windows, and the hotel has roll-down shutters that can be deployed “very quickly.”

“We have gone through many, many tropical storms over the years. While most are relatively uneventful, we always remain vigilant because we are aware that predictions are just predictions and nobody knows what is actually going to happen.”

Todd Johnson is the chef-proprietor of Nosh on Naples Bay. Hurricane Ian also significantly damaged his restaurant.

“Whenever we get these storm threats, we pull outdoor furniture in or tuck it to the building. For the interior, we make sure all small kitchen coolers are cleared out and consolidated into our big cooler.”

His team packs as much ice as possible in case of a power outage to ensure everything stays cold.

“Moving guests from outside to inside this time of year is pretty easy compared to the rare thunderstorms that brew quickly during season, when outside seating is completely booked with reservations, and so is inside, which happened in January several times this year.”

At Celebration Park, the all-outside food truck venue on Bayshore Drive, General Manager Gary Rudd said, “Rebecca (Maddox, owner) has us "battening down the hatches before any storm.”

His staff starts with the "obvious potential problems," including anything that can blow away. The venue’s standalone bar is protected with hurricane shutters.

They make a "game-time call" on closing during the morning of a weather incident, just in case the storm shifts.

When pups need to pee and poop during a storm

While all of Naples Humane Society’s dogs get exercised outside twice a day, during a storm, some just don’t want to go.

“If it's raining the entire day, they may not get both times, but volunteers and staff spend quality time with them indoors,” said Dave Feenan, the organization's marketing and development manager.

Taking them outside only worsens the situation for the pups frightened by the storm’s sounds.

Yet some dogs don’t mind the rain. Keeping a close eye on them, HSN lets their furry residents run around the yard.

As for peeing and pooping?

“Well, they sometimes do that inside anyway, even on a sunny day. When they do their business inside, our staff or volunteers immediately pick it up.”

Kimberly Miller of the Palm Beach Post contributed

Naples and Collier County are under a tropical storm warning as what was Tropical Depression Four has now formed into Tropical Storm Debby and entered the Gulf of Mexico, according the the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Bonita Beach is under a storm surge watch.

Debby is expected to bring rain, wind, rough surf and possibly surge to Southwest Florida beginning tonight.

The hurricane center warned that Bonita Beach surge could reach 2 to 4 feet if peak surge happens at the time of high tide.

The hurricane center's advisory showed a forecast of tropical storm force winds arriving to Southwest Florida late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

A hurricane warning was issued for a portion of north Florida's Gulf Coast, including the Big Bend area.

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to approach hurricane strength before making landfall.

➤ Live Collier County radar: Keep track of Tropical storm Debby impacts on SW FL

➤ Collier County impact: Tropical storm could bring several inches of rain to Southwest Florida

➤Watching Naples, Collier forecast: Storm impact expected overnight

➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Debby

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday declared a state of emergency Thursday for 54 counties. Seven more counties were added late Friday, putting 61 of Florida's 67 counties under a state of emergency.

Where is Tropical Storm Debby in relation to Collier County, Florida?

➤ Track all active storms

➤ Excessive rainfall forecast

Tropical Storm Debby forms, expected to strengthen

At 5 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Debby was located near latitude 23.9 North, longitude 83.2 West, according to the National Hurricane Center.

➤ How could tropical storm affect your weekend plans?

Debby is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph. This motion is expected to continue tonight, followed by a northward turn on Sunday and a slower northeastward motion Sunday night and Monday.

On the forecast track, the center of Debby will move across the southeastern and eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Sunday, reaching the Florida Gulf coast late Sunday night or Monday.

Surface observations from the Florida Keys and ships in the Straits of Florida indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts.

Strengthening is expected as Debby crosses the Gulf of Mexico, and the system is likely to be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf coast. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles to the east of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb.

Spaghetti models: Latest forecasts on where Tropical Storm Debby could make Florida landfall

Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Tropical storm warning for Collier County; storm surge watch includes Bonita Beach

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

Potential impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone Four: Wind and rain expected in Collier, Naples

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward over the tropical storm warning areas (including Collier County) this evening and continuing through Sunday.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area by late Sunday night or Monday morning, with tropical storm conditions expected to arrive during the day on Sunday. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area by Sunday night, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin on Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in the Florida Keys tonight, and in the Florida Panhandle by late Sunday or Monday morning.

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Debby is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with maximum rainfall totals up to 18 inches, across portions of Florida and along the Southeast U.S. coast this weekend through Thursday. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with significant river flooding expected. For Cuba, rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with localized higher amounts, will be possible through tonight. This will result in isolated to scattered areas of flooding.

TORNADOES: A tornado or two is possible across the Florida Keys and the western Florida Peninsula through tonight, expanding across much of northern and central Florida on Sunday.

SURF: Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the Gulf coast of Florida tonight through Monday and along the Southeast U.S. coast early next week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Key messages on what Florida can expect from tropical cyclone

Florida Gov. DeSantis issues state of emergency for 61 counties, including Collier County and Lee County

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Thursday for 54 counties in preparation for the potential landfall of a storm that could become the first "significant threat" to the state.

Friday night, he added another seven counties. That brings 61 of the state's 67 counties under a state of emergency.

Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida, including Naples and Collier

What's next: Tracking expected Tropical Storm Debby

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage. Download the Naples Daily News app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for subscription offers here.

Contributing: Cindy McCurry-Ross

Updated August 2, 2024 at 5:14 p.m. EDT|Published August 2, 2024 at 12:33 p.m. EDT

A tropical storm is likely to form in the eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend, bringing strong gusty winds, rough surf and heavy rainfall to Florida and much of the southeastern U.S. The storm would earn the name “Debby” and could strengthen into hurricane status before making landfall early next week.

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The National Hurricane Center has already issued tropical storm warnings for much of southwest Florida, including Fort Myers and Naples. Tropical storm watches cover the Keys and the south coast of Florida, as well as the Gulf Coast from just north of Fort Myers to just north of Cedar Key. Landfall is likely late this weekend or early next week.

The agency is projecting heavy rains and inland flooding to be the greatest concern, with a foot or more of rain in some locations. Storm surge, the rise in ocean water above normally dry land, and wind impacts are probable where the system makes landfall.

“Heavy rainfall may result in flash and urban flooding across portions of Florida and the Southeast this weekend through Wednesday morning,” the Hurricane Center wrote. “Isolated river flooding will also be possible.”

From there, the storm will parallel the Southeast Coast, riding up the shorelines of Georgia and the Carolinas and continuing to unload moisture. There’s a chance the storm slips back over the warm waters of the Western Atlantic, strengthening again and bringing a greater impact to the Carolinas through Wednesday.

If it forms, Debby will be the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, one that forecasters continue to warn will be exceptionally active or hyperactive. Researchers at Colorado State University, for instance, are projecting that 25 named storms will form, enough to exhaust the conventional naming list set to be used by the Hurricane Center.

A combination of extremely warm sea surface temperatures and relaxed high-altitude winds stemming from a burgeoning La Niña will help crank out storms in rapid succession come peak season. Hurricane season typically peaks around mid-September.

As of 5 p.m. Eastern time Friday, the nascent tropical system was located over Cuba. It had winds of 30 mph.

On infrared satellite, the disturbance was blossoming with convection, or shower and thunderstorm activity. That’s a sign it’s beginning to lift more warm, moist air into the atmosphere and strengthen. Moreover, it is moistening the surrounding atmosphere, essentially giving itself an insulating envelope of humidity and shielding itself from dry air. This supports organization in the next day or two.

That said, its spin is broad and diffuse. “The circulation is still not well-defined, and the convection is not yet well enough organized to consider the system to be a tropical depression,” the Hurricane Center wrote.

Until a tighter pocket of spin consolidates, it won’t be able to build itself into a storm. The mountainous terrain of Cuba will complicate this process. That’s why there’s some lingering uncertainty about where the center of the storm will become established, and therefore where the eventual system will track.

It is extremely likely that a tropical storm will develop. That will probably happen by early Sunday. Then the system will intensify.

Whether a hurricane develops depends on how long the system has to organize over the very warm waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Water temperatures there are running several degrees above average and are approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Naples, for example, has a water temperature of 88.2 degrees; Pensacola, in the Florida Panhandle, is at 88.9 degrees.

How long it has over the Gulf hinges on the specific track, which still is uncertain.

A range of possibilities

If a more western track develops, then the storm will have more time to take advantage of the Gulf’s high oceanic heat content, or fuel stemming from warm seawaters, which would allow it to strengthen to a greater degree.

Therefore, if the storm does intensify into a hurricane, it would probably do so along a more western track. That could take it into the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama or coastal Mississippi. That scenario is less likely, but still possible. That would also delay landfall to late Monday or early Tuesday.

What is most likely, however, is a swifter and more easterly track into the Florida Peninsula, with a landfall somewhere between the Caloosahatchee River and the Big Bend. That means a more limited period during which the storm can strengthen. It would probably come ashore Sunday afternoon or evening, or perhaps very early Monday, as a tropical storm. That would also bring more direct impacts to Tampa.

A 2 to 4 foot storm surge is expected where the system makes landfall, presumably along the Gulf Coast. If the storm ends up being stronger — perhaps coming ashore as a low-end hurricane — then a greater surge could be realized.

Otherwise, winds may gust 45 to 65 mph at the coastline and above 40 mph inland. Heavy rains would be likely for most of Florida and eastern parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. Rain totals of 4 to 8 inches will be widespread, with a few locales nearing a foot. A couple of isolated tornadoes are possible, too, primarily east of the storm’s center.

In the Carolinas, the center may stay offshore. But if it moves ashore, wind and flooding threats, as well as the surge and tornado threat, would all be greater. There’s even a chance it moves offshore, re-intensifies and then swings back westward onto land again. Forecasters will iron out the details in the days ahead.

Regardless of Debby’s exact track along the Southeast coast, the storm’s slow movement will ensure several days of rough surf, rip currents and beach erosion.