Tropical Storm warnings for Debby revised

Waves crash against the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. as wind, waves, and storm from Tropical Storm Debby pound the Florida panhandle Sunday, June 24, 2012. / AP Photo

Last Updated 7:00 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) MIAMI - The threat of Tropical Storm Debby to Louisiana has lessened, according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center.

While tropical storm warnings have been extended southward along the western coast of Florida, the warning for Louisiana has been discontinued.

Coastal Alabama and parts of Florida, including the Panhandle, remained under tropical storm warnings.

As of late Sunday, the latest forecast map shows the center of the storm 100 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Fla., and likely to meander northward for several days before making landfall. Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles.

Forecasters say some slight strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours.

Debby already had dumped heavy rain on parts of Florida and spawned some isolated tornadoes, causing some damage to homes and knocking down power lines. High winds forced the closure of an interstate bridge that spans Tampa Bay and links St. Petersburg with areas to the southeast.

It was not completely clear when or where Debby would make landfall, though original models of the storm showed it reaching hurricane strength by the time it hit the Louisiana coastline.

GOES-East satellite imagery shows Tropical Storm Debby in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, June 24, 2012.

/ NOAA/GOES

Near the mouth of the Mississippi southeast of New Orleans, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said officials were making preparations to protect the main highway from tidal flooding.

At least one tornado linked to the storm touched down Saturday in southwest Florida, but no injuries were reported. Another was reported Sunday in Venice, damaging some homes.

"This is quite common with this type of storm," senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart with the National Hurricane Center said of the twisters. "They tend to not be very large or long-lived, which can be difficult to detect on radar. So people need to keep an eye on the sky."

However, despite warnings in the Panhandle, Debby hadn't totally dampened vacations.

Thousands of people were on the beach at Pensacola Beach, Fla., on Sunday morning. Many used their phones to take photos of huge waves crashing into the concrete supports of a fishing pier. There wasn't any rain yet; just gusty winds and dark, fast-moving clouds.

Few people were in the water. Red flags warned tourists to stay out of the surf, and lifeguards cruised the sand on all-terrain vehicles, blowing whistles at anyone who got near the waves.

Workers with rental companies used pickup trucks to gather chairs and umbrellas as a precaution against an unusually high tide.

Forecasters said Debby could reach hurricane strength sometime over the next few days. Meanwhile, up to 10 inches of rain were possible along the coast, with isolated amounts possibly reaching 15 inches.

Debby forced the suspension of 8 percent of the region's oil and gas production.

The government reported that nine production platforms and one drilling rig were evacuated. The suspended crude production amounts to about 2 percent of U.S production and about 0.1 percent of global production. The reduced production is not expected to impact oil prices unless the storm strengthens and forces more production platforms to close.

Out in the Gulf, Anadarko Petroleum removed all non-essential personnel and expected to close four facilities in the central and eastern Gulf. Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell and Marathon Oil said non-essential personnel were being removed but production was not being affected. ExxonMobil reported that its operations were unaffected.

[FerdFerkle]

50 miles north of St Petersburg 6 or more inches of rain Sun. 5:00 pm.

[AnnieDanny]

We must be in nearly the same location. I can't remember so much rain in our area, ever. We had to go out to the grocery store and there are huge puddles covering roads and filling the ditches. We won't go out again until this is over. Visibility isn't good. Pulled out in front of a silver car that didn't have it's lights on: could hardly see it. At the grocery, two of the teenage clerks were joking about making a bed out of the toilet paper packages and sleeping there tonight.

[Mikey_Mo]

At least one tornado touch down. Kind of Sounded disappointed there.
:o|

[inletbeach]

Just like a woman. Debbie changed her mind and headed northeast instead of southwest. She is now
aimed at north Florida and Georgia. Go figure.

[Werewolf69]

As long as it keeps away from Southeast Florida, I'm happy, I suffered enough losses with Andrew back in '92.

[Neillevine3]

Where is Obama? Dubya got it over Katrina. What is Obama doing besides looking out for number one???

[55minus5]

Stack up some clean underwear, and you'll be all right.

[tonyatq]

So he can stop the storm. ONE WORD "LEAVE".

[bwlewis1964]

The Hurricane should be renamed to Hurricane Lebron in honor
of the Heat's championship.

[spartan1827]

deb5055 you must be kidding!!!!I think you're being deliberately obtuse.

[bradfregger]

You mean Debbie did Dallas and now she going to do Louisana?

[donretired]

HA HA Good one my friend. To bad it don't do away with Louisana where all the dougnut eating cops are. LOL

[PeterBlooms]

Rain for Texas? It is sure needed!!

[retiredgustav]

I was hoping it would hit Texas down in the valley and then head on up to Colorado. No such luck.

[realidad-2009]

"Redneck Riviera Green Movement"?
Drill Baby Drill!