At a Glance
- Debby made a second landfall early Thursday.
- The storm spawned a deadly tornado in North Carolina.
- The storm caused flight delays at several major East Coast Airports.
Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.
Debby dumped more than 19 inches of rain across parts of the Southeast and spawned several tornadoes as the storm wreaked havoc from Florida to Virginia.
Debby's slow crawl started with landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Monday in Florida's Big Bend region along the Gulf Coast. Debby entered the Atlantic Ocean and came ashore Thursday in South Carolina as a tropical storm.
At least seven people were killed in the storm's path, emergencies were declared in several communities, evacuations were issued for some areas and hundreds of thousands were left without electricity.
Here are our live updates from Thursday:
(6:11 p.m. ET) What We’re Watching Next
From weather.com senior graphics meteorologist Dina Knightly:
An area of disturbed weather off the coast of Africa has the chance of tropical development near the Lesser & Greater Antilles early next week. If it were to form and get a name, it would be Ernesto. It is still early, but that area is a prime spot for tropical development in August.
(5:32 p.m. ET) National Blood Shortage Related To Weather, Red Cross Says
Record heat dampened turnout at nearly 100 recent blood drives across the U.S. Then came Debby, which forced blood drives in the Southeast to be canceled.
The American Red Cross declared a national blood emergency on Monday, noting that the blood supply plunged by 25% since July 1.
To help, the agency is asking people in unaffected areas to donate blood as soon as possible. Visit redcross.org for more details.
(4:41 p.m. ET) Debby Downgraded To Tropical Depression
The National Hurricane Center just issued its last advisory on Debbie, downgrading the storm to a tropical depression. It's currently located about 45 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Rain and flooding remain a major threat in the system's path.
(4:32 p.m. ET) Flight Delays Continue At East Coast Airports
Weather is causing disruptions at several major airports, according to the FAA. Ground stops or delays are in place at Boston Logan, Washington National, LaGuardia, Newark, JFK, and Raleigh-Durham.
Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
(3:56 p.m. ET) Why We'll Likely Continue To See An Active Hurricane Season
An update from NOAA this morning showed a continued transition toward La Niña as we get closer to fall.
That means the more active hurricane season we are already seeing is likely to continue. La Niña usually decreases wind shear, and that makes the tropical atmosphere more favorable for development.
Pre-season outlooks predicted one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. That still seems likely this year.
(3:13 p.m. ET) Photos Show The Wrath Of Debby
We've collected a slideshow of nearly 100 photos, from Hurricane Debby making landfall in Florida to the storm bringing flooding, tornadoes and damage into North Carolina. You can see them here, or click through the slideshow below.
(2:22 p.m. ET) Don't Ignore The Danger Of Falling Trees
A combination of high winds and soggy ground is making conditions ripe for falling trees. Dozens of trees are down in Raleigh, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. There are also reports of downed trees and power lines from cities in Pennsylvania including Roanoke and Danville.
Falling trees are an often overlooked danger when it comes to storm deaths. There's no reliable data on the number of people killed by falling trees in the U.S. each year, but data from the National Weather Service blames 55 deaths on wind in 2022, the most recent year published.
(1:51 p.m. ET) Where Debby Is Now
The National Hurricane Center just released its 2 p.m. update. Debby is sitting or about 100 miles southwest of Raleigh, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm is moving north-northwest at about 10 mph.
(1:42 p.m. ET) Evacuations Ordered In Georgia Community
Some residents in Bloomingdale, Georgia, are being told to leave their homes over fears of flooding. The area is located in Effingham County, about 10 miles northwest of Savannah.
The community lies near the Ogeechee River at the town of Eden, which is approaching major flood stage of 16 feet and is expected to rise to more than 19 feet by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. That would be the river's highest crest there since Oct. 1, 1929.
(1:19 p.m. ET) South Carolina Sees More Than 18 Inches Of Rain
Here's a look at some of the highest rainfall totals as of noon today:
South Carolina
-Summerville, 18.25 inches
-Mount Pleasant, 17.7 inches
-Green Pond, 17.43 inches
-Charleston, 10.35 inches
North Carolina
-Kings Grant, 15.25 inches
-Shallotte, 13.05 inches
-Elizabethtown, 10.71 inches
Advertisem*nt
-Wilmington, 8.57 inches
(12:57 p.m. ET) North Carolina Activates More National Guard Members
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is calling up more National Guard members and deploying more rescue vehicles as Debby dumps more rain on the state, The Associated Press reported.
The region “continues to face unrelenting rain and destruction from Tropical Storm Debby,” Gov. Roy Cooper said today at a National Guard armory in Kinston.
He added that some 374 guard members and 131 vehicles were ready to respond.
(12:41 p.m. ET) Power Outages Soar
More than 125,000 power outages are being reported in North Carolina, according to PowerOutage.us.
About 7,700 outages are being reported in South Carolina and about 7,400 remain in Florida.
(12:08 p.m. ET) Why It's So Important To Pay Attention To Debby's Rainfall
When it comes to deaths attributed directly to tropical storms and hurricanes, rainfall flooding is the biggest killer. More than half of the people killed during named storms in the past 10 years drowned in floodwaters.
Weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman breaks down the danger here.
(11:15 a.m. ET) Major Flooding Potential Today
The days of rain aren’t over yet for residents of the East Coast, as Debby continues its downpour over the already-drenched region. Our meteorologists are watching flooding closely today throughout North Carolina, including Wilmington, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston Salem.
From weather.com meteorologist Rob Ellis:
"As long as Debby remains slow-moving, flooding rains will continue to be the biggest threat, even well after landfall. And the impacts don't just immediately stop along the coast. Inland and all along the path of the remnants of Debby, flooding will be a concern, especially areas susceptible to flooding like metropolitan areas with urban flooding and higher terrain like the Appalachians."
Several flash flood warnings are already in effect across the Carolinas. Parts of Roanoke, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. area should also be on alert for flash floods.
(9:58 a.m. ET) Deputies Narrowly Escape Falling Tree
In Bladen County, North Carolina, high water has made many areas impassable. Flooding has overtaken several roads and bridges. Officials issued a voluntary evacuation order. They’re urging people to stay off the roads as much as possible.
While patrolling overnight, Bladen County deputies narrowly escaped a large tree that fell across the highway. The tree busted the windshield on their patrol car, but both deputies made it out safely.
(9:31 a.m. ET) Tornado Death Confirmed In North Carolina
Local officials in Lucama, North Carolina, are reporting one death from an overnight tornado that damaged at least 10 homes, including a two-story house that completely collapsed.
Witnesses told WRAL News the second floor of the home fell onto the first floor. Neighbors became worried when the homeowner, a man in his 60s, didn’t answer his phone. A FEMA crew was dispatched to search through the wreckage and found a body at around 9:15 a.m. The other damaged homes in the area were searched and cleared with no additional casualties.
(8:59 a.m. ET) Seven Tornadoes Confirmed In South Carolina
Officials from the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, have confirmed at least seven tornadoes spawned by Debby in the state so far.
Preliminary damage assessments identified four EF1 tornadoes, including one that touched down in Moncks Corner.
Local media shared photos from the area showing an Arby’s restaurant turned inside out by the fierce winds.
While the severe weather threat for South Carolina has subsided, damage assessments will take several more days.
(8:35 a.m. ET) Man Trapped By Debby-Spawned Tornado
Crews are assessing tornado damage to a stretch of homes outside of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Footage from local media shows several roofs caved in and belongings scattered across the grass. Search and rescue officials told witnesses they believe a man is still inside one of the homes.
They’re using tools to make their way through the debris and identify any victims that have been unaccounted for.
(7:50 a.m. ET) Debby’s Tornado Threat
Today brings an increased potential for severe weather, as Debby’s outer bands blow through North Carolina and into Virginia.
From senior meteorologist Chris Dolce: “Debby has spawned multiple tornadoes this week from Florida to the Carolinas. That threat is now spreading northward along its track, with eastern North Carolina and central and southeast Virginia possibly seeing a few tornadoes spin up today. The Raleigh, North Carolina, and Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia, metro areas are included in this threat area.”
Residents should be on the lookout for watches and warnings as they are issued throughout the day.
(7:30 a.m. ET) Debby Contributes To National Blood Shortage
The American Red Cross declared a national blood emergency due to a shortfall of donations caused, in part, by Debby. Officials say the storm exacerbated an already bad situation; its flooding, power outages and travel hazards forced the cancellation of blood drives across the Southeast. This means hundreds of lifesaving blood donations are going uncollected, just as they’re needed most.
Ahead of the storm, the Red Cross worked to ensure hospitals in Debby’s path would be fully stocked with blood products.
Officials say the national blood supply has fallen 25% since July 1.
(6:43 a.m. ET) Tornado Rips Through Middle School
Just before dawn, a Debby-spawned tornado touched down in Lucama, North Carolina, causing significant damage in its path. County officials confirmed that Springfield Middle School took a heavy hit. Video from social media shows parts of the school in ruins.
At least four nearby homes also suffered structural damage. No injuries have been reported.
Emergency crews are already on the scene, assessing the damage and securing the area. Officials are asking everyone to stay clear of the parts of town affected, remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
(6 a.m. ET) Power Outages Expected To Worsen
This morning, more than 75,000 people in the Carolinas are without power as Debby's winds and rain begin to wreak havoc again. Power outages were a big concern before Debby hit, so local providers ramped up their staff and prepped across the Southeast.
Duke Energy says they have at least 7,500 crew members working nonstop to restore power, including hundreds who traveled in from the Midwest to lend a hand.
