Tropical Storm Debby's slow crawl will dump rain on North Carolina and create flood risks

Tropical Storm Debby is forecast to drench the Triangle and eastern North Carolina for multiple days this week, bringing a high risk of flash flooding throughout the state.

Threat level: While the exact path is still uncertain, Debby will likely move through the Triangle as a tropical depression on Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Swiggett told Axios on Monday.

• On Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency across North Carolina due to flooding risks, high wind gusts and the likelihood of widespread power outages.

Zoom in: Because Debby is moving slowly, rain will linger for several days, potentially dropping six to eight inches on the Triangle — more than the average precipitation expected for the entire month of August.

• Areas to the east and south of the Triangle could see even more, including up to 16 inches in the Wilmington area, according to a Monday night forecast .

Between the lines: Some events have already been moved or canceled. Vice President Kamala Harris postponed her scheduled Thursday visit to Raleigh because of the storm, the News & Observer reported .

The big picture: Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday in Florida's Big Bend area.

• It is expected to cross the Florida peninsula and hang over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Georgia on Tuesday, where it could regain strength before making landfall again along the South Carolina coast.
• Rain from Debby could be felt in the Triangle starting Tuesday and grow in intensity as the storm approaches the area.

What we're watching: The sheer amount of precipitation Debby will bring to the Triangle is the main concern here, Swiggett said. But wind could also be a factor depending on where the center of the storm passes through.

• It could bring 20 to 40 mile per hour gusts — though most of the intense winds will be on the eastern side of the storm's center.
• The current models, as of Monday night, show a chance that the track is likely to pass through central North Carolina.

What they're saying: "Don't get caught up on it being just a 'tropical storm,'" Swiggett said. "It's not necessarily the strength of a storm that predicts an impact from a storm."

• "Tropical storms can bring the potential for very heavy and potentially even historic rainfall," he added.

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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