Cumberland County and its surrounding areas remain on a flood watch Wednesday as the slow-moving Tropical Storm Debby meanders off the coast, before drifting northwestward over the eastern and central Carolinas on Thursday and Friday.
"This will give ample opportunity to drop a LOT of rain there and through a good portion of North Carolina. The historic heavy rainfall will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
The Fayetteville Observer will provide updates throughout the day, so check back regularly for the latest news on Tropical Storm Debby.
3:30 a.m.: Tornado watch issued, Flash flood warning extended
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties until 1 p.m. Thursday. A tornado watch means that conditions could lead to a tornado.
A flash flood warning issued for Cumberland, Hoke, Sampson and Scotland counties late Wednesday night was extended until 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service said that between 2.5 and 4 inches of rain has fallen, with another 2 to 3 inches expected.
— Beth Hutson
10:15 p.m.: Flash flood warning issued for Cumberland
The National Weather Service in Raleigh issued a flash flood warning for Cumberland, Hoke, Sampson and Scotland counties on Wednesday night until 3:45 a.m. Thursday.
At 9:48 p.m., Doppler radar showed thunderstorms producing heavy rains across the area. The NWS said between 1 and 3 inches has already fallen, with additional rain of 2 to 4 inches expected. Flash flooding has either started or is expected to start shortly.
— Beth Hutson
6:15 p.m. Where's Debby?
The National Weather Service’s latest weather models as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday showed rain bands ahead of Tropical Storm Debby arriving in the Fayetteville area at about midnight Thursday.
According to the forecast, the greatest rain activity is expected to be about 3 a.m. and continue through 6 a.m., until the rain subsides in the area about 9 a.m. Thursday.
A 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center stated that the storm was about 50 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, and 85 miles south of Myrtle Beach.
According to the NWS, Fayetteville stands to receive 6-8 inches of rain and could see wind gusts up to 41 mph.
Rain is expected to pivot to the west by daybreak Thursday, with more waves of rain between 6 and 9 a.m., said Nick Petro, a Raleigh-based NWS meteorologist during a 5:30 p.m. on the NWS YouTube page.
The NWS update showed that as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville was at 13.69 feet. The river starts to flood when it is at 35 feet or more. According to a news release from the city, the river is expected to peak at 50 feet around 2 p.m. Saturday.
In Fayetteville: PHOTOS: Scenes from downtown Fayetteville as Tropical Storm Debby nears
Petro said moderate flooding is expected for the Little River area, which is in Spring Lake.
Petro said the storm will start to lift north Thursday morning, but rain will continue midday when the primary rain band pivots north and northwest.
Additional scattered bands of rain will remain in the area Thursday afternoon and are expected to scatter out by 3 p.m., he said.
By 11 a.m. Friday, the rain should move out with "sunshine returning Friday afternoon," Petro said.
— Rachael Riley
1:10 p.m.: Cooper: 'We are prepared for the worst'
While Tropical Storm Debby continues to meander in the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina and very slowly make its way north, Gov. Roy Cooper made clear that North Carolina is fully ready for whatever the storm brings to the Tar Heel State.
At a press conference Wednesday morning, the governor said the state had fully activated its emergency operations center and was focusing on being prepared for any potentially severe flooding impacts across much of Eastern and Central North Carolina from the slow-moving storm.
Steps included activating 17 swift-water rescue teams and pre-positioning many of them in counties across the state's coastal plain; deploying more than 350 members of the N.C. National Guard, many with high-clearance vehicles to traverse flooded areas; and assigning more than 2,200 NCDOT workers to the storm to help with preparations like clearing debris off storm grates and clearing out drainage ditches.
"While we hope for the best, we are prepared for the worst," Cooper said.
The governor said residents should stay alert and informed, highlighting several times the state's relatively new Flood Inundation Mapping & Alert Network website, which includes information on more than 300 river gauges across the state, as a great tool to monitor.
He also said the next few days weren't the time to see if you could drive along a flooded road or ignore road-closure barriers.
"Now is not the time to see if your car floats, because it doesn't," Cooper said.
— Gareth McGrath
Update: 12:15 p.m. Debby gets stronger
The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Debby is “a little stronger" than expected, according to an 11 a.m. public advisory .
In the advisory, officials said the storm was tracking about 55 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and 100 miles from Myrtle Beach.
"Some additional strengthening is possible today or tonight before the center of Debby reaches the coast of South Carolina,” the advisory stated.
The storm’s center is expected to reach the South Carolina coast by Wednesday night or early Thursday, while “a faster motion toward the north and north-northeast across the Carolinas and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states is expected on Thursday and Friday.”
An 11 a.m. advisory from the National Weather Service stated that widespread heavy rainfall “with the greatest threat” is expected to start Wednesday night and continue through Friday.
NWS radar simulations for timing show the greatest activity in the Fayetteville area being between 11 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday.
The NWS has also placed Fayetteville at a moderate risk for flooding, and Lumberton at a high risk.
According to the NWS, the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville was observed to have 13.67 feet of water as of 8 a.m. Wednesday. The flood stage is at 35 feet.
— Rachael Riley
Update: 11 a.m.: When will Fayetteville see strongest effects?
The Cumberland County region could see the strongest effects from Tropical Storm Debby between late Wednesday night and into Friday morning, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
Debby was still a tropical-strength storm over the southeast coast and Western Atlantic as of Wednesday morning, said Aaron Swiggett, a Raleigh-based NWS meteorologist.
“Through today and into Thursday, it is expected to lift north and then go inland off the Carolina coasts and South Carolina coast Thursday morning, and then for the most part, progress toward central North Carolina, including Cumberland County, through Thursday into Friday morning,” Swiggett said.
Storm closings: Here's a list of Fayetteville-area closings and delays because of Tropical Storm Debby
Ahead of the center of the storm moving through the area, Swiggett said Cumberland County could see periods of light to moderate rain Wednesday.
As the system starts to lift north and outer rain bands redevelop, Swiggett said the mid to late afternoon and evening time is when moderate rain bands will form.
“The bulk of the heavy rain should start persisting tonight into tomorrow morning,” he said.
The bulk rainfall is expected to last between 6-18 hours, a decrease of earlier forecasts of 24-36 hours, he said.
Swiggett said some areas of Cumberland County could see between 8-10 inches of rain, while the majority of the area could see 4-8 inches.
— Rachael Riley
Winds could be elevated, but the main concern is potential flooding, he said.
A 9 a.m. weather briefing showed that wind gusts could reach 31 mph.
Swiggett said that with the winds and saturated soil, some trees could get knocked down, and there could be scattered tree damage and power outages.
“But flooding is the primary concern,” he said. “Bulk, heavy perception occurring tonight into Thursday morning could cause overnight flooding, which makes it dangerous to judge depths of roadways when it’s hard to see. Stay inside and check road conditions tomorrow morning to see if your normal route has any concerns.”
Outages and more: Tropical Storm Debby: Check flooding, outages, road closures and more in Fayetteville area
Swiggett said flash flooding could be a concern late Thursday into Friday morning.
Into Thursday, there could still be some isolated swaths and rain bands producing 1-3 inches, but where the lingering rainfall will go is still uncertain, he said.
Conditions should improve by Friday afternoon, he said.
— Rachael Riley
7:20 a.m.: Latest on its impacts in the Fayetteville area
People living along rivers and creeks should make preparations for possible flooding as early as Thursday, the National Weather Service Raleigh said.
Debby, south of Charleston, South Carolina, early Wednesday morning, is forecast to erratically drift east just off the coast today, before a building mid-level ridge that should cause the system to turn northward and move back inland somewhere along the South Carolina coast late Wednesday and early Thursday, according to the latest weather briefing from the NWS.
Like Tuesday, isolated and widely scattered showers are expected to develop along the western edge of the band into the western Piedmont.
Impacts should earnestly increase late Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night as a prominent, heavy rain-producing feeder band pivots inland into the Sandhills and Piedmont counties during the evening and overnight.
Areas of flash flooding are likely overnight, "which is especially dangerous at night as it can be difficult to see and determine the true magnitude/depth of flash flooding."
Wind gusts up to 40 mph could lead to scattered power outages and downed trees, mainly late Thursday and early Friday, especially along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor. That area also has the highest possibility of isolated tornadoes through early Friday.
The National Hurricane Center has the storm somewhere just north of the Triad by daybreak Friday, with drier air wrapping around behind the departing cyclone throughout the day and bringing about the end of widespread rainfall.
On Monday, Debby made landfall near the coastal town of Steinhatchee, Florida, as a Category 1 hurricane. It's the fourth named storm of the hurricane season and arrived with sustained winds of 80 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
— F.T. Norton
Local preparations
At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Cumberland County is opening five emergency shelters at the following locations:
- Mac Williams Middle School: 4644 Clinton Road, Fayetteville.
- Pine Forest High School: 525 Andrews Road, Fayetteville.
- Smith Recreation Center: 1520 Slater Ave., Fayetteville.
- South View High School (pet friendly): 4184 Elk Road, Hope Mills.
- Westover Recreation Center (pet-friendly): 267 Bonanza Drive, Fayetteville.
Pet owners who bring their animals to a pet-friendly shelter are responsible for the care of their pets and should bring food, medication and other pet supplies. Animals will be housed separately from people in those shelters.
People going to shelters should bring blankets, toiletries, medications and clothing. Caregivers should accompany those who have special needs, and those with infants should bring formula, baby food and diapers. Don't bring food that requires refrigeration or heating.
How to prepare: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here's what to know if you live in the Fayetteville area.
States of emergency have been declared in Cumberland County, Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills.
Cumberland County Schools will maintain a normal schedule Wednesday and switch to remote learning Thursday and Friday. Read the full story on schedule changes here.
Harnett County Schools will operate on a remote schedule for students and staff on Wednesday and Thursday, and all extracurricular activities are canceled for those days.
Robeson Community College will operate on a remote schedule Wednesday and Thursday.
— F.T. Norton
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Tropical Storm updates: Cumberland County under tornado watch, flash flood warning Wednesday
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