Tornado watch at NC coast; most rain from Debby expected in southeast NC

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina coast is set to receive the worst from Tropical Storm Debby with more than 15 inches of rain forecast — and a tornado watch was issued Tuesday until Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

A tropical storm warning was also expanded north Tuesday afternoon into coastal Pender County from coastal New Hanover County and coastal Brunswick County. A tropical storm watch is already in effect for inland areas.

Slow-moving Tropical Storm Debby is forecast to dump rain over North Carolina coastal areas for days. A CBS 17 Storm Team analysis Tuesday indicated the worst-hit areas would be in southeastern North Carolina.

The rainfall forecast through Friday is for at least 12 inches of rain — and up to 16 inches in areas east of east of Scotland County and south of Wayne County.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 4:35 p.m. for parts of southeast North Carolina until 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The tornado watch in North Carolina is for the following counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender.

“A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area,” the weather service said.

The tornado watch Tuesday night into Wednesday also includes coastal waters out 20 nautical miles from Surf City to Cape Fear and down to Little River Inlet, the National Weather Service said.

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