Debby Weakens, but Fla. Still Faces Flooding Risk Debby was expected to head out into the Atlantic on Wednesday, but forecasters warn that the weakened storm still posed a flooding and tornado threat even if it doesn't pack the same punch. The National Hurricane Center downgraded Debby from a tropical storm to a tropical depression Tuesday night as it slogged across northern Florida toward the Atlantic coast. But forecasters said a combination of storm surge and tide could bring flooding to coastal areas that have already been drenched by the storm that sat virtually motionless in the Gulf of Mexico for several days. There was already major flooding at Black Creek, as well as several other rivers in the Jacksonville region, National Weather Service meteorologist Angie Enyedi said. She said tornadoes could form to the east and the southeast of the storm. The hurricane center said late Tuesday that Debby was 110 miles west of Daytona Beach and moving southeastward at 7 mph. The storm was expected to veer east-northeast and pick up speed, then cross the northern Florida peninsula overnight and head out to sea. But many in Debby's path were still recovering from flooding that damaged homes, washed out roads, opened up sinkholes and closed a section of Interstate 10 - the state's main east-west highway. A Florida Highway Patrolman warns motorists about high water in Medart, Fla., Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Heavy rains from the approaching Tropical Storm Debby caused wind and rain damage. Along the Florida Panhandle, the parking lot at the 100-room Buccaneer Inn was empty because of a power outage ahead of the usually big pre-July Fourth weekend. At that point, it had sustained winds near 40 mph - barely a tropical storm - hours before it was downgraded. Several areas in northern Florida have received more than 10 inches of rain. Forecasters had said southeastern Georgia could expect the same, but that risk was reduced when the storm turned eastward Tuesday night. Wakulla, an area in northwestern Florida known for camping and canoeing, had gotten more than 26 inches as of Tuesday.