This NOAA satellite image taken Saturday, June 23, 2012, shows shower and thunderstorm activity developing around an area of low pressure spinning in the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Debby has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and forecasters say it will bring rain to the Gulf coast from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.MIAMI (AP) – Tropical Storm Debby formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, interfering with oil and gas production and putting officials on alert for flooding and strong winds from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
At least one tornado linked to the storm touched down in southwest Florida, but no injuries were reported.
Debby was about 220 miles (354 kilometers) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph).
The center of Debby is expected to linger over the northern Gulf during the next few days with no landfall in the immediate forecast. Forecasters warned of up to six inches of rain along the coast, with isolated amounts of 10 inches.
It was the first time four tropical storms have been recorded before July 1 during the Atlantic hurricane season since record keeping began in 1851.