Tropical Storm Debby’s rains will begin Tuesday. What to expect across NC from storm.
Update: North Carolina will see the heaviest rains from Debby on Thursday. Click here for the latest.
As Tropical Storm Debby continues its sluggish movement to the north on Tuesday, much of central North Carolina is bracing for heavy rains and likely flash flooding, while coastal areas also are on the lookout for tornadoes.
Here’s what meteorologists see coming.
The immediate forecast for central and eastern NC
The area from the Sandhills south is likely to see some showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and Tuesday night, with total rainfall amounts of up to an inch.
Showers and storms are possible Tuesday across the Triangle as well, but rainfall amounts are expected to total only about half an inch through Tuesday night.
When the heaviest rain is expected
A flood watch is in effect across central North Carolina through Friday evening in anticipation of Debby dropping 8 to 12 inches of rain through the period, with higher amounts possible, especially in the eastern Sandhills and coastal plain, the National Weather Service said.
From Interstate 95 east, five counties are under a tornado watch through Tuesday evening.
The heaviest rainfall likely will come Wednesday and Thursday.
The Triangle area could see more than 2.5 inches of rain from Wednesday morning to Wednesday night, and another 7 inches are possible between Thursday morning and Thursday night, the National Weather Service said.
Elsewhere in the state, forecasters are calling for rainfall totals from Debby ranging from up to 4 inches in the mountains and foothills to more than 16 inches in a small area along the South Carolina border that includes southwestern Robeson County.
Will Debby cause wind damage?
Most of the state has only a 5% to 20% chance of getting tropical storm-force winds, meaning sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Southeastern counties have a 20% to 40% chance of tropical storm-force winds.
In Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, wind gusts on Wednesday and Thursday could be as high as 22 mph.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Tropical Storm Debby’s rains will begin Tuesday. What to expect across NC from storm.."
