US: Tropical Depression Debby tracking north-northeastward over southern North Carolina as of late Aug. 8 /update 13

Tropical Depression Debby is tracking north-northeastward inland over southern North Carolina late Aug. 8, having made landfall in the Bulls Bay area, South Carolina, at around 03:00 EDT. The storm previously made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Steinhatchee in the Big Bend region of the Florida Gulf Coast at around 07:00 Aug. 5 before moving into the North Atlantic Ocean off Georgia Aug. 6. As of 23:00, the system's center of circulation was approximately 135 km (80 miles) north-northeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forecast models indicate that the system will maintain its strength as it tracks north-northeastward across central North Carolina and central Virginia through early Aug. 9. The storm is then forecast to transition into a post-tropical cyclone as it tracks north-northeastward across far northeastern West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, and northern Vermont in the US and into far southern Quebec in Canada through early Aug. 10. The post-tropical system will continue to track northeastward around the Maine-Quebec border then across northern New Brunswick, and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence Aug. 10. Some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast, and significant changes could occur over the coming days.

As of late Aug. 8, officials have issued the following watches and warnings:

Flood Watches and Warnings

• South Carolina

• North Carolina

• Virginia

• Eastern West Virginia

• Maryland

• Pennsylvania

Flood Watches

• Upstate New York

• Northern Vermont

• Northern New Hampshire

Tornado Watches

• Eastern North Carolina

• Northern and Eastern Virginia

• Maryland

• District of Columbia

• Eastern West Virginia

Coastal Flood Advisories

• Eastern North Carolina

• Areas surrounding the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River

• Central New Jersey Coast

Gale Watches

• Rhode Island

• Southeastern Massachusetts up through Cape Cod

Wind Advisories

• Western Virginia

• Eastern Maryland

• Delaware

• Eastern Pennsylvania

• New Jersey

• Southern New York

• Southern Connecticut

Authorities will likely issue new warnings throughout the system's progression in the coming days.

The system is forecast to produce additional rainfall totals of 7.5-15 cm (3-6 inches) with localized higher amounts across parts of southeastern North Carolina, bringing storm totals of up to 38 cm (15 inches). Additional totals of 2.5-7.5 cm (1-3 inches) with localized higher amounts are probable across parts of eastern South Carolina, bringing storm totals up to 51-64 cm (20-25 inches). Considerable flooding is likely in these areas.

Totals of 7.5-18 cm (3-7 inches) with localized amounts up to 25 cm (10 inches) are likely from central North Carolina northward across portions of Virginia through Aug. 9 and totals of 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) with localized amounts up to 15 cm (6 inches) are likely from Maryland northward through Upstate New York and Vermont through late Aug. 9. This rainfall will probably result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible, especially across western Virginia. Totals of 2.5-7.5 cm (1-3 inches) with localized amounts up to 10 cm (4 inches) are likely across the remainder of northern New England through Aug. 10. Scattered flooding is possible in these areas. Isolated tornadoes are possible from eastern North Carolina into Virginia and Maryland over the coming hours before shifting northward into parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and southeast New York Aug. 10.

Swells from the storm will continue to affect the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic coasts through around Aug. 10. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Evacuation orders are in place for dozens of residents downstream of the Cypress Lake, Simmons Mill Pond, and Oglesby Pond dams in Bulloch County, Georgia, due to the breaching of the dams. A dam north of Fayetteville, North Carolina broke early Aug. 8, prompting the evacuation of around 12-15 homes. There were no reports of injuries or damage to structures. Authorities in North Carolina have issued voluntary evacuations for low-lying and flood-prone areas across the state. Officials in Ocean Isle Beach, Brunswick County, South Carolina, issued a voluntary evacuation order asking residents and visitors to leave Aug. 7 due to the threat of the potential storm surge from Debby. Authorities declared a state of emergency in Georgia and South Carolina Aug. 4, North Carolina Aug. 5, and Virginia Aug. 6 ahead of Debby's approach. Florida authorities declared a state of emergency for 61 of the state's 67 counties before the storm's arrival due to possible significant flooding. Officials issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders affecting thousands of people across counties in coastal areas of Florida ahead of the storm's initial landfall, including mandatory evacuations in parts of Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Levy, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.

A tornado in Lucama, Wilson County, North Carolina, resulted in one fatality due to a damaged home and damage to Springfield Middle School and multiple other structures. Authorities have confirmed one fatality in Levy County, Florida, and another fatality in Moultrie, Georgia, due to falling trees. Traffic accidents in Florida due to adverse weather conditions have resulted in one fatality in Hillsborough County and another two fatalities in Dixie County. Another person was found dead after going missing in a boat off Gulfport, Florida.

Reports indicate storm surge and resultant flooding along parts of the Big Bend coast Aug. 5, with water levels around 5.5 meters (18 feet) recorded at Cedar Key. Some areas of Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina have received more than 30 cm (12 inches) of rain in the past few days, causing river levels to rise and triggering widespread flooding. The Sarasota Police Department in Florida had to evacuate around 500 people from flooded homes in the area. People living near the McGrady Dam in Colleton County, South Carolina, were ordered to evacuate due to the potential for the dam to fail. Reports also indicate damage to buildings, power lines, and vehicles in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. following a possible tornado. In North Carolina, residents in Bladenboro in Bladen County have been cut off due to flooding and tornado damage has been reported in Lenoir and Wilson counties early Aug. 8.

As of late Aug. 8, more than 26,000 customers are without power across North Carolina and more than 21,000 customers across Virginia. Thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed at airports across affected regions Aug. 5-8, including Charleston International Airport (CHS), Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Tampa International Airport.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and locations with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. Localized evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides are possible in hard-hit regions.

Inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions, rendering some bridges or roadways impassable. Flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary port closures are also possible. Stagnant pools of water during and after flooding may increase the incidence of insect- and waterborne diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, and malaria. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.