Meteorologists say Tropical Storm Debby will continue to move along the South Carolina coast and possibly gain strength before making landfall again Wednesday night or Thursday morning and heading toward North Carolina.
On Wednesday morning, the storm's center was about 50 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., and was moving northeast at about 4 mph, just a little faster than the average healthy adult's walk. Debby had maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.
Once the storm makes its second landfall, meteorologists predict it will pick up some speed for its northbound journey, with forecasts calling for it to arrive in North Carolina on Thursday afternoon or evening.
What will Debby bring to North Carolina?
Tropical Storm Debby remains mainly a flood hazardand the storm is expected to drop another 3 to 9 inches of rain across parts of North Carolina through Friday. That would bring totals for the week to 15 inches in some parts of southeastern NC, the Hurricane Center said.
a A flood warning is in effect in parts of Robeson, Bladen, Columbus, Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties through Friday.
a tropical storm warning and storm surge warnings are in effect for coastal Brunswick County. And parts of Pender and New Hanover County are under tropical storm warnings.
Once the storm moves inland, meteorologists expect it to move through the center of the state and into Virginia. The center of the storm should leave North Carolina early Friday morning, but the backside of the storm will continue to produce rain and wind through Friday evening.
WhenWill floods be the worst?
NC FIMAN — Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network — on Wednesday showed six spots in eastern and southeastern NC where major flooding is expected during or after Debby’s rains, plus more than a dozen locations where moderate or mild flooding is expected. FIMAN uses streamflow data, weather forecasts and other information to identify places where flooding is likely.
As in the past, low-lying areas along the Neuse River are expected to flood in Clayton, Smithfield, Goldsboro and Clinton, as well as areas along the Lumber River in Lumberton, the Little River in Spring Lake and the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville and Wilmington.
A flood warning is in effect for most of central North Carolina through Friday. Flash flooding is expected in low-lying areas and urban areas where water does not drain quickly.
What is the weather forecast for Raleigh?
The Triangle can expect another 4 to 8 inches of rain through Friday evening before the storm passes. Wednesday and Thursday will be the wettest days.
▪ There will likely be some showers on Wednesday, but heavier storms are expected on Wednesday evening, which could bring 2 to 3 inches of rain.
▪ Showers and thunderstorms are likely Thursday and Thursday night, with a total of 5 inches of rain possible during the day. Winds will be around 15 mph with gusts as high as 26 mph, the National Weather Service said.
▪ More showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely Friday and Friday night, with significantly less accumulation — less than 1 inch total. It will still be windy, with gusts up to 24 mph, meteorologists say.
▪ Saturday will be mostly sunny and warm, with a maximum temperature of 30 degrees, according to the Meteorological Service.
