Tropical Storm Debby: 2nd landfall brings power outages, tornadoes, flooding to NC
Further advisories from the National Weather Service were issued this morning, Aug. 8, for northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina following the second landfall of Tropical Storm Debby.
Flash flooding was the main concern affecting both areas according to the NWS, with impassable roads and potential for wash-outs. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency for N.C. on Monday for predictions of heavy rain, flooding and outages that accompanied Debby.
"More than 350 soldiers and airmen from the North Carolina National Guard have been activated, and swift water rescue teams are on standby throughout the state," Cooper's office said in a news release. "The State Emergency Response Team has pre-positioned people and equipment to expedite help to local communities, including supplies such as water, sandbags, tarps, and water pumps."
From USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Debby pounding North Carolina; death toll rises to 7: Live updates
More: Tropical Storm Debby rainfall totals for NC, SC, Georgia through Wednesday morning, Aug. 7
When did Tropical Storm Debby hit North Carolina?
A 2 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center said that Debby made its second landfall early Thursday near Bulls Bay, less than 30 miles northeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Maximum sustained winds were up to 50 mph.
Debby continued along Florida's Big Bend region on Monday, then moved across Georgia and along the Atlantic coast. Throughout Thursday and Friday, the storm is predicted to bring up to 8 inches of rain, with the possibility of up to 15 inches across parts of the Carolinas and Virginia.
More: Jim Cantore is in Charleston, not a good sign as up to 30 inches of rain is forecast there
Tornadoes an issue
NC Emergency management posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that most of central and east North Carolina is under a tornado watch, which means conditions are favorable for tornadoes.
"Since midnight Thursday, over 20 Tornado Warnings have been issued with additional Warnings likely being needed today," the post added. A tornado warning is issued by a local National Weather Service office to warn the public of an existing tornado.
Power outages in North Carolina
USA TODAY reported this morning that almost 130,000 homes and businesses had lost power in NC alone this morning just after 9 a.m. after Debby's second landfall.
The network's Power Outage Tracker showed largest clusters of outages in four counties in central NC:
Mecklenberg County, which had more that 23,000 customers without power.
Chatham County, which had more than 12,300 customers without power.
Gaston County, which had more than 8,200 customers without power.
Forsyth County, which had more than 7,500 customers without power.
More: Severe flooding from glacier outburst damages over 100 homes in Alaska's capital
NC coast Debby impact
Dangerous marine conditions are continuing on the N.C. coast, with high winds, rough surf and strong rip currents. Some storm surge is still expected, with inundation 1-3 feet above ground level possible causing mostly minor impacts.
Tropical storm force gusts are expected, particularly in eastern portions of southeast NC, with some impacts possible from downed trees and further power outages. Isolated tornadoes are a possibility in possible portions of southeast N.C., though the possibility wanes after the morning hours.
More: Nearly 400,000 without power in northeast Ohio amid severe weather, tornado warnings
Will Tropical Storm Debby impact Asheville, Western NC?
Showers and thunderstorms are expected on and off today in the Asheville area, with cloudy conditions all day and a 60% overall chance of precipitation, the NWS says. North winds of 5 to 10 mph are predicted, with gusts up to 20 mph. Between a quarter and half an inch of rain is expected.
By Saturday, storms and rain are expected to move away, with clear and partly cloudy conditions expected all weekend.
More: What is a tropical wave? How tropical waves affect the weather
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Tropical Storm Debby: Tornadoes, power outages in North Carolina
