Tropical Storm Debby has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane ahead of its anticipated landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast on Monday, U.S. forecasters said late Friday. The hurricane was about 65 miles west of Cedar Key, Florida, and about 100 miles west of Tampa, and moving north at about 12 mph, the center said. Debby is expected to continue strengthening before it reaches the Big Bend coast on Monday, weakening after it moves inland across northern Florida and southern Georgia, it said. A sign warns of a storm surge before the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key, Fla., on Sunday. Ron DeSantis compared Debby’s path to that of Hurricane Idalia, the Category 4 storm in 2023 that caused significant damage in north Florida.

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Persons: Debby, Tom Street, Dan Norman, Joe Raedle, Ron DeSantis, Idalia, Debby won’t, DeSantis Organizations: National Hurricane Center, Getty Images Locations: Coast, U.S, Cedar Key , Florida, Tampa, Bend, Florida, Georgia, Cedar Key, Fla, South Carolina, Florida's Gulf Coast, Suwannee, Getty Images Florida