At a Glance
- Homes were flooded and cars submerged in southeast Georgia.
- More than 60 homes were reported to be damaged in South Carolina.
- Several deaths are being linked to the storm.
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Tropical Storm Debby didn't let up Wednesday, leaving homes flooded, vehicles submerged and livelihoods ruined.
“You just sort of have that death, that empty feeling inside," Natalie Haney, whose mother owns a destroyed florist shop in Live Oak, Florida, told The Associated Press.
“The hurricane has apparently flung the roof off ... Ceiling tiles are falling through and the floor tiles were coming up, so everything’s pretty much ruined inside."
People were rescued from floodwaters across the Southeast, and at least six deaths are being connected to the storm. The White House approved emergency declarations - and federal aid - for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
(MORE: The Latest Forecast For Debby | Debby Maps Tracker)
Here are our live updates as Debby moved up the East Coast Wednesday:
(7:27 p.m. ET) At Least 60 Homes Damaged In South Carolina
Kim Stenson, South Carolina emergency management director, told WCBD-TV that preliminary damage estimates show 64 homes damaged in the hardest-hit areas of Berkeley, Charleston, and Colleton counties.
At least half-dozen businesses were also damaged.
Stenson said those numbers could rise as assessments are ongoing.
The state was hit by heavy rainfall, flooding and tornadoes.
(6:33 p.m. ET) Homes Flooded, Cars Underwater In Southeast Georgia
Drone video shared by a local TV station shows muddy water flooding homes and vehicles almost completely submerged in Bulloch County, Georgia, where emergency management officials say several dams were overtopped.
More than a foot of rain has fallen in the area.
Bulloch County includes the city of Statesboro as well as Brooklet, Portal and Register.
(6:11 p.m. ET) Why Do Hurricanes Cause Tornadoes?
Debby has spawned at least five tornadoes so far - four in South Carolina and one in North Carolina.
Tornadoes can form in thunderstorms embedded in a hurricane or tropical storm's outer rain bands, most often in the right front quadrant of a storm where there is wind shear and instability. In parts of South Carolina, these "tropical tornadoes" typically come from storms that make landfall on the Gulf Coast and then continue toward the north or northeast, according to the National Weather Service.
Like other tornadoes, most tropical tornadoes are weak and short-lived, but can still cause damage or even deaths. Only five tropical tornadoes since 1995 were as strong as F/EF3, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.
The National Weather Service just released a report rating damage from two Debby-related tornadoes in South Carolina as EF1 and rating two others as EF0. The system for rating tornadoes is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
(5:51 p.m. ET) Debby Lurks Off South Carolina, Inching Closer To Second Landfall
From senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman:
This will be one of those landfalls that won't be all that impactful or meaningful, other than it means it won't strengthen again.
As has been the case since its first landfall, we'll be tracking areas of locally heavy, flooding rain through Friday night, in addition to an isolated tornado threat and the aftermath/ongoing river flooding.
(4:22 p.m. ET) Tornado Damages Homes In North Carolina
At least two homes were hit by a tornado this afternoon in the Sampson County community of Harrells, about 80 miles south of the Raleigh-Durham metro. The National Weather Service shared video of a tornado in the area shortly after 2 p.m.
(3:46 p.m. ET) At Least Four States Get Federal Disaster Aid
The White House has approved federal emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The move paves the way for federal aid to areas hardest hit by Debby.
(3:15 p.m. ET) North Carolina City Gets Ready
The mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina, around 65 miles south of Raleigh, says his city is ready for Debby.
"We’ve had our fair share of these rain events and we’ve learned from experience,” Mayor Mitch Colvin told The Weather Channel. “The city’s been very proactive this time. Our low-lying areas, we’re making sure we create barriers … to keep people from passing into hazardous areas. We’re notifying our residents, making sure the communication is high, making sure people take this seriously.”
Fayetteville could get 7 to 10 inches of rain from Debby, on top of several weeks of recent rain that pushed creeks and rivers over their banks. Colvin says flooding, not rain, is his main concern this week.
No evacuations have been ordered yet in Fayetteville, but Colvin has declared a state of emergency and says shelters are open. Cumberland County, where Fayetteville is located, posted an interactive map directing people to the nearest shelter.
Fayetteville is home to Fort Liberty, formerly called Fort Bragg, one of the largest U.S. military bases in the world.
(1:30 p.m. ET) Top Winds From Debby
While rain is the big story, Debby's brought high winds from South Florida to the coast of North Carolina. Here are a look at some of the storm's peak wind gusts as of 11 a.m.:
Florida
-76 mph in Chiefland
-73 mph in Dania Beach
-70 mph in Palmetto
Georgia
-57 mph in Jekyll Island
-55 mph at Savannah International Airport
-55 mph at Valdosta Regional Airport
North Carolina
-52 mph at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
-48 mph in Piney Island
South Carolina
-63 mph at Folly Beach
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-59 mph at Battery Point
-56 mph in Isle of Palms
(1:16 p.m. ET) Beaches Closed In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
During what might be the last week of summer break for some families, double red flags are flying in Myrtle Beach. That means swimming is prohibited.
An update an hour ago from the fire department reads: "The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has upstaffed with swiftwater rescue personnel. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is monitoring road conditions. Do not drive around barricades."
Residents and visitors are asked to remain vigilant, and only call 911 for legitimate emergencies.
(12:56 p.m. ET) Flight Cancellations Due To Debby
Cancellations and delays continue to mount the East Coast today, according to airline tracker FlightAware.com. Dozens of flights are impacted at North Carolina and South Carolina airports along or near Debby's path, including Charlotte Douglas International, Myrtle Beach International, Charleston International and Savannah/Hilton Head International.
Flight woes are also mounting at airports across the Northeast as bad weather moves in ahead of Debby. Airlines including Delta, Southwest, and United are waiving change fees through Friday or into the weekend at airports in major cities including Baltimore, Boston, New York, Washington and Philadelphia.
(12:32 p.m. ET) Rainfall Nears 20 Inches In Florida
Here's a look at the latest top rainfall numbers by state, according to the National Weather Service:
Florida
-Lake City, 19.67 inches
-Parrish, 18.86 inches
-Lakewood Ranch, 18.34 inches
Georgia
-Rincon, 13.44 inches
-Bellville, 13.04 inches
-Newington, 12.28 inches
South Carolina
-Summerville, 17.27 inches
-Green Pond, 16.63 inches
-Edisto Beach, 14.31 inches
North Carolina
-Calabash, 7.22 inches
-New Bern, 6.81 inches
-Carolina Shores, 6.43 inches
(12:09 p.m. ET) Rivers Still Rising In Southeast
At least 10 river gauges from eastern Georgia into South Carolina and North Carolina are forecast to hit major flood stage in the coming days.
That includes:
-The Black Hawk River at Tomahawk, North Carolina.
-The Cape Fear River near Burgaw and Chinquapin, both also in North Carolina.
-The Little Pee Dee River near Galivants Ferry, South Carolina.
-The Edisto River near Givhans Ferry, South Carolina.
-The Ogeechee River near Eden, Georgia.
(10:45 a.m. ET) Myakka River Expected To Rise In Sarasota County
Between Thursday, August 8, and Saturday, August 10, the Myakka river is forecast to rise, Sarasota County officials say. The area of concern starts north of Clark Road.
(9:45 a.m. ET) Where Is Debby Now?
The center of Tropical Storm Debby is over the Atlantic Ocean. But, the effects are being felt across the East Coast. A new GOES-East satellite loop shows the storm slowly creeping northeastward off the coast of South Carolina.
(9:10 a.m. ET) Charleston, South Carolina, Curfew Lifted
A curfew that was in place in Charleston, South Carolina, has now been lifted per a statement released by Mayor William S. Cogswell, Jr. “As of 7:30 a.m. today, the city-wide curfew in Charleston has been lifted, and main thoroughfares leading onto the Peninsula have been reopened,” the statement read. “After assessing overnight conditions, officials have determined that it is safe to return to normal activities.”
(8 a.m. ET) Heat May Complicate Debby Recovery
Some parts of the Southeast are facing a wave of hazardous heat. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee is warning residents that those still recovering from Debby, either outdoors or indoors without power, are especially vulnerable.
(7:00 a.m. ET) Debby To Move Into Places Hard Hit In Last Decade
Parts of the Carolinas that are expected to see heavy rain as Debby meanders along the coast are not at all unfamiliar with the prospect of extreme flooding. In the last eight years, North and South Carolina have seen two billion-dollar flooding events. According to the Associated Press, Tuesday’s flooding was “similar to what it sees several times a year because of rising sea levels."
(6:30 a.m. ET) Moisture From Debby Contributes To New York Flooding
Late last night, moisture from Debby collided with a front causing significant flooding around the New York City metro area. A flash flood warning was issued as heavy rain overtook drains and roadways.
(6:10 a.m. ET) How Much Rain Is Left For Debby?
Debby has dumped heavy rain across much of the Southeast. In some parts of western and northern Florida, 12 to almost 19 inches of rain fell. Parts of Georgia and South Carolina have seen over 10 inches. So, how much rain remains in the forecast? As of now, forecasts indicate that Debby may produce an additional three to nine inches of rainfall with higher amounts possible in some spots. That means, by the time Debby exits, South Carolina may have seen maximum storm total amounts as high as 25 inches; North Carolina as high as 15 inches.
(6:00 a.m. ET) North Carolina, Virginia, Declare State Of Emergency
Both North Carolina and Virginia have declared a state of emergency as Debby sets up for a second landfall. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency through an executive order signed Monday. Yesterday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin followed suit citing, “the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding across regions of the Commonwealth.”
(5:30 a.m. ET) Power Outages Dip Below 50,000 In Florida
After hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses went without power due to the impacts of Debby in Florida, utility providers have worked to restore service leaving less than 50,000 customers in the dark. As of Wednesday morning, only about 43,000 homes and businesses did not have power.
(5:00 a.m. ET) Debby’s U-Turn, Second Landfall
The National Hurricane Center reports that Debby is expected to turn north late Wednesday making a second U.S. landfall along the South Carolina coastline. The storm poses continued threats of heavy rainfall and tornadoes.
For yesterday’s coverage of Debby’s impacts, click here.
Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
