US: Tropical Storm Debby tracking north-northwestward over northern South Carolina as of Aug. 8 /update 12

Tropical Storm Debby is tracking north-northwestward inland over northern South Carolina Aug. 8, having made landfall in the Bulls Bay area 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 11:00, the system's center of circulation was approximately 125 km (80 miles) southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forecast models indicate that the system will weaken into a tropical depression as it tracks northward into North Carolina Aug. 8. The storm is then forecast to transition into a post-tropical cyclone as it tracks north-northeastward across Virginia late Aug. 8-early Aug. 9 before moving rapidly northeastward across northeastern West Virginia, northwestern Maryland, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, northern Vermont and into southern Quebec through early Aug. 10. The post-tropical system will continue to track northeastward around the Maine-Quebec border 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 Aug. 8, officials have issued the following watches and warnings:

Tropical Storm Warning

• North of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina

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

Tropical storm conditions are forecast to continue within the tropical storm warning area along the coast of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina through Aug. 8. The system is expected 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 expected across parts of eastern South Carolina, bringing storm totals up to 64 cm (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 early Aug. 10. This rainfall will probably result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible. Totals of 2.5-7.5 cm (1-3 inches) with localized amounts up to 10 cm (4 inches) are expected across the remainder of northern New England through Aug. 10. Scattered flooding is possible in these areas. Isolated tornadoes are possible over parts of central and eastern North Carolina and central and southeastern Virginia over the coming hours.

Storm surge is possible along parts of the southeastern Atlantic coast over the coming days, with peak surges at high tide reaching 0.3-0.9 meters (1-3 feet) from Cape Fear to Ocracoke Inlet, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. Swells from the storm will continue to affect the southeast US coast through around Aug. 10. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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. Evacuation orders are also 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. Authorities in North Carolina have issued voluntary evacuations for low-lying and flood-prone areas across the state. 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.

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 Aug. 8, more than 130,000 customers are without power across North Carolina and nearly 17,000 customers across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. 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.