Why did Debby produce so many tornadoes in NC?

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Five days after Debby made landfall in South Carolina, the National Weather Service wrapped up surveys of impacted areas that saw tornadoes from Debby.

In all, 10 tornadoes touched down across NC between August 6 and August 8. According to the State Climate Office, this is the most in NC from a tropical system since Hurricane Isaias spawned 12 twisters in 2020.

The first tornado touched down in Brunswick County on August 6, but it was a very short-lived and weak tornado; an EF-0 with winds of 65 mph.

Tornadoes #2 and #3 touched down in Sampson and Duplin Counties, with an EF-0 near Maple Hill and an EF-2 near Harrells in far southern Sampson County.

The strongest tornadoes touched down in the middle of the night, very early in the morning on August 8. An EF-2 touched down near Snow Hill in Greene County, and while that tornado lifted, the same cell spawned the EF-3 near Lucama in Wilson County.

That was only the third EF-3 tornado on record in North Carolina associated with a tropical system. Isaias spawned an EF-3 tornado in Bertie County, and Hurricane Cleo in 1964 spawned an F3 tornado in Scotland County.

Two weak and very brief tornadoes touched down in and around Rocky Mount and Nash County, both EF-0s with winds of 85 MPH.

Three more tornadoes touched down in Franklin County, two with EF-1 strength and winds of 100 MPH, while the other was an EF-0 with winds of 85 MPH.

All of the tornadoes spawned from Debby earlier this month and Isaias in 2020 came on the right side of the storm’s path. That is very typical of landfalling tropical systems.

The right side of the storm has the highest low level wind shear, necessary for tornado formation, and is usually where the strongest overall winds are found as well.

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