The system slowly intensified as it tracked west-northwestward toward Mexico, eventually reaching tropical storm status on September 2.

Debby became Tropical Depression Seventeen-E, which moved northwest but remained poorly organized due to wind shear and dissipated on September 8.

The remaining portion of the wave continued westward and reached the Caribbean Sea as a disorganized center of showers.

Shortly after entering the Bay of Campeche on August 31, the system was given a T1.5 rating on the Dvorak scale, based on appearance on satellite imagery.

The depression moved generally west-northwestward, steered by a high pressure area situated over the Eastern United States.

Based on a reconnaissance aircraft flight and satellite imagery, it is estimated that the cyclone intensified into Tropical Storm Debby around 06:00 UTC.

However, the circulation managed to remain intact and reached the Pacific Ocean between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta on September 5.

As a result, the system became Tropical Depression Seventeen-E, with advisories beginning at 21:00 UTC after the remnants of Debby became organized enough to be classified as such.

[2] Although the depression was a poorly-organized cyclone, the possibility that it could re-intensify into a tropical storm in the small and narrow Gulf of California existed.

[3] However, due to the depression's proximity to land and increasing wind shear, the chances of the system strengthening into a tropical storm again became doubtful.

Four people died and sixteen were injured in Ixtlahuaco – a town in Hidalgo about 100 mi (160 km) northeast of Mexico City – when a mudslide crushed three homes.

[12] The combined effects of Debby and Hurricane Kristy, which impacted Mexico's Pacific coast around the same time, rendered about 50,000 people homeless.

[11] Local health officials in Mexico City warned of the possibility of outbreaks of hepatitis, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases.

In response to the threat, homes located in the northern portions of the city near the Río de los Remedios were fumigated.