Tropical storm Debby expected to strengthen, bring historic rainfall to Southeast U.S.

Experts forecast Tropical Storm Debby will strengthen to Category 1 status before making landfall in the Southeast U.S. Unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico are contributing.

Florida and Georgia authorities are warning residents to prepare for the landfall of the intensifying storm, which could be a hurricane by Sunday, CNN reported.

Debby's winds are clocked at 65 mph, an increase of 30 mph from yesterday. The storm is located 125 miles off the Florida coast near Tampa, Florida.

The National Hurricane Center "warn[s] that the threats of heavy rain and storm surge could lead to flooding in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in the coming days."

Flooding is the top concern due to rainfall and storm surges up to 10 feet.