Tropical Storm Debby's remnants could 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 track of the storm is still uncertain, Debby is likely to make its way through the Triangle as a tropical depression on Friday, Aaron Swiggett, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Raleigh office, told Axios on Monday.
- Because Debby is moving at a slow pace, rain from the storm will be felt for multiple days, potentially dropping six to eight inches on the Triangle, which is 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.
Driving the news: 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 Wednesday and grow in intensity as the storm approaches the area.
What we're watching: Swiggett said the main concern with this storm in the Triangle will be the sheer amount of precipitation it brings. 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.
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.
Go Deeper: Read Axios New Orleans' guide to making a prep kit for hurricane season
Local South Carolina State
Most Popular
Comments / 0