Debby's impact on North Carolina: Live updates on the storm (2024)

Posted August 9, 2024 at 2:54 PM EDT

Some residents of Haw River, North Carolina were advised to evacuate due to the threat of river flooding.

WGHP-TV reports that Alamance County Emergency Management officials had first-responders go door-to-door on Thursday to urge people in about 30 houses along the Haw River to relocate because of the flood threat.

The Haw River is expected to crest just over moderate flood stage in the town of the same name on Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The town of Haw River is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Raleigh.

Posted August 9, 2024 at 2:14 PM EDT

Lumberton suffered catastrophic flooding after hurricanes in 2016 and 2018. The Lumber River spilled its banks and poured into neighborhoods through a low spot where railroad tracks run under Interstate 95.

Residents feared a repeat during Tropical Storm Debby. The river reached major flood stage stage Friday, but it was a few feet lower than after hurricanes Matthew and Florence, and the city had plugged the railroad underpass with a robust temporary dam.

"Fortunately, we dodged a bullet, so to speak, on this one," said Rob Armstrong, Lumberton’s director of public works. "But if you look at this 20-foot-plus crest, it's going to make the top five of all-time crests of the Lumber River."

Lumberton plans to build an elaborate flood gate next year to permanently fix the underpass problem. Armstrong said Debby caused flash flooding in some parts of the city, and while a full assessment hasn't been conducted yet, it appeared to mostly fill yards and streets.

Posted August 9, 2024 at 2:07 PM EDT

The National Weather Service says they have confirmed that Wilson County was hit by an EF-3 tornado Thursday due to Debby.

The deadly tornado had 140 mph winds. At least one person died, and there was damage to homes and other buildings, including significant damage to Springfield Middle School in the town of Lucama.

Posted August 9, 2024 at 2:04 PM EDT

Crews at Duke Energy and Dominion Energy are still working to restore power for thousands due to Debby.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, more than 8,000 in North Carolina are without power. Mecklenburg County has the most number of outages, with more than 1,500.

Most of the outages are affecting Duke Energy customers. A spokesperson for Duke Energy said they hope to get many of them restored by the end of the day.

Meanwhile, the majority of the outages for Dominion Energy occurred in the Roanoke Rapids area and Elizabeth City. Dominion Energy plans to monitor river flooding this weekend after Debby passes, because it can cause outages. For the latest outage information, check here.

Flooding

Posted August 9, 2024 at 12:04 PM EDT

Gov. Roy Cooper says North Carolina's major rivers are in flood stages in some areas and water levels are likely to keep rising this weekend.

Tropical Storm Debby dumped up to 11 inches of rain in some parts of central North Carolina. The Lumber River had already reached major flood stages in Lumberton on Friday.

Officials also expect moderate or major flooding along the Neuse, Tar, Haw, Black and Cape Fear rivers. In a press conference Friday, Cooper said water from the storm will impact riverside communities through early next week.

"We ask people to keep listening to local officials, evacuate if you're advised to do so, and don't drive through flood waters," Cooper said. "If you're told to evacuate, get out of the danger zone."

The storm is being blamed for two deaths in North Carolina. A man died in a collapsed home in Wilson County after a suspected tornado touched down, and authorities in Rockingham County say a woman died when a tree fell on her home.

Death

Posted August 9, 2024 at 12:02 PM EDT

Rockingham County Sheriff's deputies say a woman died inside her mobile home in Brown Summit on Thursday after a tree fell on it due to remnants of tropical depression Debby.

Authorities say 78-year-old Hilda Windsor Jones was found dead when first responders and law enforcement arrived at the scene.

According to a release, there was no one else in the house at the time of the incident.

From PRE

Posted August 9, 2024 at 6:58 AM EDT

Swansboro experienced a power outage early this morning, leaving residents and visitors wondering if their favorite businesses would be open through Tropical Storm Debby.

Yana’s Restaurant is a ’50s-themed joint dishing up burgers, shakes and their famous fruit fritters for locals and tourists alike. Yana’s employee, Diana, said they got the day off to a bumpy start, with a power outage in the morning, but things are looking up.

“Earlier, I mean driving in, the roads, there was a lot of standing water, you had to be really careful as you were riding through it, that kind of stuff. We normally open at 7:00, and we opened at, um, 9:30, so power’s back on at 8:50, so, wasn’t bad."

Residents and businesses are hoping the worst of Debby has passed.

Read more from Public Radio East.

Wilson County

Posted August 9, 2024 at 6:46 AM EDT

Crews are starting to assess damage from Tropical Depression Debby across North Carolina.

In Wilson County, a suspected tornado killed at least one person and significantly damaged Springfield Middle School in the town of Lucama.

Wilson County spokesman Stephen Mann says sixth and seventh grade classrooms need major repairs, but the eighth-grade classrooms appeared to be intact.

"There has been talk of possibly, once the structural integrity of the building is checked, seeing whether or not they can shift students to the safe and untouched parts of the school while they repair the others," Mann said. "But that will really be a decision up to the school system."

Wilson County Schools are scheduled to start Aug. 26.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield issued a tornado watch for several counties in North Carolina on Friday morning. This includes Bertie, Camden, and Chowan counties, as well as Currituck, Gates, and Hertford. The watch lasts until 7 a.m.

Flood Warning

Posted August 9, 2024 at 6:43 AM EDT

The National Weather Service in Raleigh is warning of river flooding in most of the state.

It has issued a flood warning for the Haw River in Alamance and Chatham Counties, Tar River in Edgecombe County and several others. Creeks, streams and other low-lying areas across the state are also under this warning.

There's a flash flood warning for Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. The National Weather Service in Wilmington says heavy rain will likely flood creeks, highways and underpasses. The warning lasts until 8:15 a.m.

Heavy rains from Debby have caused another sewage leak in Greensboro. On Thursday, about 1,500 gallons of untreated wastewater entered North Buffalo Creek. The overflow lasted for one hour.

Greensboro has had two other leaks recently, causing another 8,400 gallons of sewage to flow into tributaries of the Cape Fear River basin.

Closures

Posted August 9, 2024 at 6:40 AM EDT

Thousands of people are still without power in North Carolina.

More than 42,000 outages have been reported across the state. About half are Duke Energy Customers in the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte areas.

Over 200 roads in North Carolina are closed due to severe weather from Debby too. This includes several roads in Cumberland, Duplin and Johnston counties.

A crash Friday morning has closed all I-95 Southbound lanes near exit 63 in Charlotte.

Some schools in North Carolina are still closed due to severe weather in the state. Durham, Franklin County, and Orange County Public Schools are closed Friday, while Lee and Wake County Public Schools will start with a two-hour delay.

The Latest

Posted August 9, 2024 at 6:35 AM EDT

The remnants of Debby picked up the pace Friday, moving north and northeast from the Carolinas and still packing a punch with heavy rains, flash flooding and the threat of tornadoes.

The Mid-Atlantic states and parts of New York and New England will see significant rainfall that could cause dangerous flooding into the weekend, such as on parts of Interstate 95 near bigger cities, said Jon Porter, Accuweather’s chief meteorologist. From eastern Virginia up to Vermont there may be an active stretch of tornadoes on Friday, he said.

“There will be multiple threats in Debby’s final chapter, and it’s a dangerous one,” he said.

Debby was a tropical depression by late Thursday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said. It made landfall early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. Then, Debby made a second landfall early Thursday in South Carolina as a tropical storm.

At least seven people have died related to Debby.

It only took 15 seconds for a tornado to devastate Genesis Cooper’s home in Lucama, North Carolina, a small town about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Raleigh. He almost slept through it — if not for an alert on his wife’s phone.

He, his wife and their 20-year-old son huddled in a bathroom with blankets. They felt vibrations and heard glass shattering before hearing a sudden boom.

“I can’t even describe it. It’s like, suction, that’s what it felt like,” Cooper said. “Like something is squeezing, like your ears are popping.”

The tornado was one of at least three reported in North Carolina, and perhaps the most devastating. One person was found dead in a home damaged by the Lucama tornado, Wilson County spokesperson Stephen Mann said.

The superintendent of Wilson County Schools confirmed damage at Springfield Middle School, where sections of the walls and roof are gone or compromised.

Drone footage showed portions of the school's roof ripped off, exposing rafters and duct work. A section of wall had crumbled onto the soggy green lawn, which was strewn with twisted pieces of metal roof and shredded insulation.

Tornado warnings continued to be issued throughout North Carolina and Virginia into the night Thursday. A tornado watch was in effect for over 17 million people in parts of Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia until 7 a.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, a dam north of Fayetteville, North Carolina, broke Thursday morning as Debby drenched the area. Between 12 and 15 homes were evacuated, but no one was injured and no structures were damaged, Harnett County spokesperson Desiree Patrick said.

Forrest Lennon, the owner of Diamond Dave’s Grill in Bladenboro, was counting his blessings even though 5 inches (13 centimeters) of floodwater made its way into the restaurant. He and his wife have owned the place since September. The previous owner said 3 feet of water inundated the building during the last two serious hurricanes, Matthew and Florence.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Lennon said, adding that they did everything they could to prepare for the storm.

John Minchillo

/

AP

Parks

Posted August 8, 2024 at 7:02 PM EDT

While Debby has now weakened to a tropical depression, North Carolina State Parks has fully or partially closed more than a dozen parks and recreation areas in the Piedmont and inner Coastal plains region.

Park staff have been monitoring forecasts, as well as river and lake levels for the past several days.

Spokesperson Kris Anne Bonifacio says parks have been closed in locations expected to experience unsafe storm conditions or are at risk of flooding.

“Even after the storm passes, there's going to be flooding in various areas still," Bonifacio said. "So, we just want people to make sure that they check our website for more information before they go out to the parks.”

Park closure status updates can be found at ncparks.gov/closures.

Update

Posted August 8, 2024 at 5:18 PM EDT

Debby has now downgraded to a Tropical Depression as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

As a tropical storm, there's already been multiple tornadoes, at least one death, damage to homes and buildings in Wilson and Greene counties, and thousands are still without power.

Jonathan Blaes is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. He says even though Debby is now a depression, there are still some threats to watch out for.

"We still have rain bands with locally torrential downpours and also a limited threat of a tornado spreading across these parts of central North Carolina," Blaes said. "The tornado threat is largely confined to the northern coastal plain, so places out toward Franklinton and Warrenton and even up toward Roanoke rapids."

Blaes says while the rain is letting up, tonight is still expected to be a stormy night, and people should try to avoid being in flooded areas.

He adds river flooding will be the primary threat Friday heading into the weekend.

From WHQR

Posted August 8, 2024 at 5:10 PM EDT

National Weather Service Wilmington officials expect moderate to major river flooding in the Cape Fear region. Their forecast encompasses all rainfall expected from Debby — and the rain that will come from a cold front arriving Friday. Homes near some of these rivers could flood in the coming days.

Major flooding will occur at the Lumber River at Lumberton, Little Pee Dee at Galivants Ferry, and the Black River at Tomahawk (in Bladen County). Moderate flooding is expected to come to the Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw and parts of the Cape Fear at William O. Huske Lock and Dam, Elizabethtown, and Lock and Dam 1 (northwest of Riegelwood).

NWSW meteorologists say people living along rivers and creeks should prepare for flooding.

More here from WHQR.

From the AP

Posted August 8, 2024 at 4:50 PM EDT

Tornadoes spawned by Tropical Storm Debby leveled homes, damaged a school and killed one person early Thursday, as the system dropped heavy rain and flooded communities across North and South Carolina.

It only took 15 seconds for a tornado to devastate Genesis Cooper's home in Lucama, North Carolina, a small town about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Raleigh. He almost slept through it — if not for an alert on his wife's phone.

He, his wife and their 20-year-old son huddled in a bathroom with blankets. They felt vibrations and heard glass shattering before hearing a sudden boom.

"I can't even describe it. It's like, suction, that's what it felt like," Cooper said. "Like something is squeezing, like your ears are popping."

The tornado was one of at least three reported overnight in North Carolina, and perhaps the most devastating. One person was found dead in a home damaged by the Lucama tornado, Wilson County spokesman Stephen Mann said in an email. No further details on the person were immediately provided.

Cooper said the tornado was so intense, the wind gusts dragged a large punching bag out of his son's bedroom and flung it into the living room, knocking his son's door off the hinges. Parts of their home's roof and walls were torn off, causing water to leak inside. The side windows were busted out, and the backyard pool deck was damaged.

Despite it all, Cooper seemed to be calm, saying that he knew they were in God's hands.

"This is just stuff. It can be replaced," Cooper said.

Theresa Richardson hunkered down with her husband and granddaughter in the closet of their Lucama home as the tornado tore through about a mile away.

Debris struck the house. And they could hear the roof of nearby Springfield Middle School being ripped off.

Richardson said tornadoes have struck the area before, and her neighbors call the road they live on "tornado alley."

The superintendent of Wilson County Schools confirmed damage at Springfield Middle School, where sections of the walls and roof of the 6th and 7th grade halls are gone or compromised.

"It was heartbreaking to see the school right after the event," Superintendent Lane Mills said in a statement.

Drone footage showed portions of the school's roof ripped off, exposing rafters and duct work. Windows were blown out. A section of wall had crumbled onto the soggy green lawn, which was strewn with twisted pieces of metal roof and shredded insulation.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a briefing Thursday that the state has activated more National Guard troops and added additional vehicles that can rescue people in floods.

Cooper said his thoughts were with the man killed by the tornado and his family. The governor spoke at a National Guard armory, where weather alarms could be heard going off behind him.

Meanwhile, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Lucama, deputies in Bladenboro posted photos of a patrol car damaged by a fallen tree, as well as roads that had been washed out. Standing water a few feet deep covered parts of the tiny North Carolina town.

Townspeople had helped fill sandbags Wednesday before up to 3 feet (91 centimeters) of floodwaters backed into the downtown overnight. When the sun came up, water could still be seen bubbling out of manhole covers.

Emily Dowless, who co-owns furniture store Market on Main, said 20 neighbors and friends helped moved items from the store into trailers and up off the floor in anticipation of flooding. She said about 3 inches (8 centimeters) of water made it inside the business.

"If the worst is over, that's great," she said.

Forrest Lennon, the owner of Diamond Dave's Grill in Bladenboro, was counting his blessings even though 5 inches (13 centimeters) of floodwater made its way into the restaurant. He and his wife have owned the place since September. The previous owner said 3 feet of water inundated the building during the last two serious hurricanes, Matthew and Florence.

"It could have been a lot worse," Lennon said, adding that they did everything they could to prepare for the storm.

"We just came in here and got everything we could as high as we could up off the ground … and we just left and prayed for the best," he said. "And that was all we could do."

Debby made a second landfall in South Carolina early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. The first landfall was early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

At least seven people have died due to the storm.

More flooding was expected in North and South Carolina. Up to 6 more inches (15 centimeters) of rain could fall before Debby clears those states. Parts of Maryland, upstate New York and Vermont could get similar rainfall totals by the end of the weekend, the weather service said.

Central parts of North Carolina up through Virginia were forecast to receive 3 to 7 inches (8 to 18 centimeters) of rain, with isolated areas getting up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) through Friday. The hurricane center warned of the potential for flash flooding.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Thursday afternoon that Debby's effects aren't completely over because rain falling in North Carolina could swell rivers and cause flooding downstream.

"We've passed some dangers, but there's still plenty," McMaster said. "So don't let your guard down yet."

Back on the coast, Robert Chesnut stood in nearly a foot of water inside his Isle of Palms home with a rented an industrial pump that looked like a fire hose. After more than three hours, only about an inch (2.5 centimeters) of water had been pulled out of his house on the barrier island near Charleston.

And once the water is gone, there is still a lot of work to do.

"This is contaminated water," Chesnut said. "These houses are on septic tanks. I hate to say it, but that's fecal matter. You have to disinfect everything."

Allen G. Breed

/

AP

___

This story has been updated to correct the first name of a business owner. He is Forrest Lennon, not Forest. An earlier version of this story removed an incorrect reference to total rainfall amounts for the Carolinas.

___

Associated Press contributors include Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Jeff Martin in Atlanta, and freelance photographer Mic Smith in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Record Rain

Posted August 8, 2024 at 3:41 PM EDT

The National Weather Service in Raleigh reported Thursday afternoon that the heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm Debby have broken daily rainfall records at the Raleigh-Durham and Piedmont Triad airports.

In a tweet, NWS officials noted that on Thursday through 2 p.m., 3.59 inches fell at RDU, breaking the record of 2.63 inches in 1928. They also noted that 3.46 inches of rain had been measured at Piedmont Triad International Airport, breaking the 1998 record of 3.18 inches.

As more rain is expected to move across the North Carolina today, forecasters are expecting those rainfall measurements to increase.

No Swimming

Posted August 8, 2024 at 3:24 PM EDT

North Carolina environmental officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in coastal waters until water quality testing has shown it is safe to do so.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality said to avoid swimming specifically in coastal waters from Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk to the South Carolina state line. Heavy rains have caused the flooding of residential areas, and that creates stormwater runoff, which can contain elevated levels of harmful bacteria, to pollute waters that drain into the ocean, according to a release state officials sent out Wednesday.

“Severe weather events like tropical storms and hurricanes bring excessive amounts of rain, storm surge and cause extreme flooding. These conditions increase levels of harmful bacteria in our coastal waters that can cause illness,” Erin Bryan-Millush, manager of the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, said in the release. “The sources of bacteria can vary and include failing septic systems, sewer line breaks and overflowing manholes.”

State officials said that residents and visitors should avoid swimming in coastal waters until testing shows that bacteria levels are within the state and federal standards for safety.

Water quality testing will begin as soon as weather conditions are safe and areas are accessible. Since the impact of the storm is widespread, it is not possible to post signs in each area. State environmental officials warn the public to stay away from ocean outfalls.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore noted in a Thursday release that there is a compromised residential wastewater system on the beach at the north end of Rodanthe, near Corbina Drive. Seashore officials advise visitors to avoid the beach between the north end of Rodanthe and South Shore Drive until conditions improve.

The Latest

Posted August 8, 2024 at 2:33 PM EDT

As Debby drenches South Carolina, heavy rainfall from the tropical storm is also expected to cause flooding across portions of the mid-Atlantic states and Northeast through Saturday morning. Meanwhile, residents as far away as the Great Lakes and New Jersey have also experienced heavy rains connected to the slow-moving tropical storm.

North Carolina activates more National Guard troops

North Carolina has increased the number of National Guard troops activated and added more rescue vehicles into the mix as rains from Tropical Storm Debby continue to drench the state.

The state “continues to face unrelenting rain and destruction from Tropical Storm Debby,” said Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday at a National Guard armory in Kinston.

Some 374 guard members were ready to help respond with 131 vehicles, Cooper said.

One death has been reported in North Carolina after a home collapsed in a likely tornado in Wilson County in one of Debby’s storm bands. The overall death toll from Debby stands at seven.

It doesn’t look like North Carolina will suffer as badly as it did in massive floods from Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence. The state has helped repair or rebuild 14,000 homes from that pair of billion-dollar disasters, Cooper said.

Road closure in southeast North Carolina due to flooding

In southeastern North Carolina, near the state line, as much as three feet of standing water was reported in Bladenboro.

That prompted authorities to shut down roads into the town.

“Bladenboro has been barricaded off from the rest of the county,” the National Weather Service said in a post on X. The weather service said a flash flood emergency had been declared for the county.

Interstate 95 is shut down around Fayetteville, North Carolina due to flooding

Flooding closed one of the major highways along the East Coast on Thursday morning. A part of Interstate 95 around Fayetteville, North Carolina, was shut down after water topped the freeway, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said. Troopers gave no indication of when the interstate could reopen.

At least 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain have fallen in the area since Debby first started crawling toward the region.

An average of more than 50,000 vehicles a day pass through the stretch of I-95, the freeway that connects Florida to Maine.

The storm could bring more tornadoes as the day goes on in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, forecasters said.

Debby on Wednesday influenced thunderstorms from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. And the National Weather Service’s office in Charleston said survey teams earlier confirmed four-Debby related tornadoes.

No Power

Posted August 8, 2024 at 2:18 PM EDT

Over 100,000 North Carolinians are without power as Tropical Storm Debby brings severe weather to the state, as of 3 p.m. Thursday. Most of the outages are affecting Duke Energy customers. The company says crews will work to restore service in areas where the conditions allow. If winds exceed 30 miles per hour, their crews will have to wait to work on downed power lines.

Harnett County has opened an emergency shelter for residents who need to shelter in place during Tropical Storm Debby. It is located at Western Harnett High School in Lillington.

Residents are encouraged to bring to bring essential items like, medications, and personal identification, as well as important documents, clothing, and bedding. For those bringing pets, ensure they are properly crated, and have sufficient food, water, and necessary medications. The county's animal services department will take the pets.

The Latest

Posted August 8, 2024 at 11:59 AM EDT

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says swift water rescue teams have been activated across the state as forecasters anticipate more flooding from Tropical Storm Debby.

Moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds are expected mostly in central North Carolina for the rest of the day.

Cooper was speaking from a National Guard facility in Kinston Thursday as another tornado warning was issued in Lenoir County to smart phones around him.

“We expect some roads to be flooded, that barricades will be erected,” Cooper said. “We once again tell people not to walk through or drive through water.”

State emergency management officials say about 60 people are now in more than a dozen shelters. They're also monitoring potential river flooding over the next several days.

In Greene County, a tornado that landed around 2 a.m. also damaged multiple homes and two agricultural farms. According to Greene County Emergency Services, staff assessed the damaged areas, and no injuries have been reported so far.

The city of Raleigh has closed its greenways due to potential flooding. City officials are urging people to avoid the trails until further notice.

About 128,000 customers – most of them Duke Energy customers – were still without power as of 11:50 a.m. Thursday.

Flooding

Posted August 8, 2024 at 11:36 AM EDT

A Flash Flood Warning is now in effect for most of central North Carolina until 4 p.m. Thursday.

Counties impacted include Davidson, Alamance, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange and Randolph. Between two and four inches of rain has fallen across those areas, and an additional two to four inches of rain is possible.

Meanwhile, there is also a Flash Flood Warning in effect for parts of Eastern North Carolina. Those areas include Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus counties. Between 8 and 11 inches of rain have already fallen there.

Damage

Posted August 8, 2024 at 11:33 AM EDT

Makiya Seminera

/

AP

Tropical storm Debby has caused extensive damage to a middle school in Wilson County.

Overnight, the storm caused major damage to one wing of Springfield Middle School in Lucama. Wilson County Schools' superintendent Lane Mills says the impact is focused on the sixth and seventh grade hallways where large sections of the roof and walls are missing or compromised.

"I am thankful that students and staff were not in the building during the time of the storm," Mills said in a statement. "This situation will be ongoing, and we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage, but we will be sharing information and next steps with our families and staff as we can. It was heartbreaking to see the school right after the event, and I want to thank all of the caring folks that have already reached out to offer assistance and support."

Mills said in a message to families that he traveled to the school and it was heartbreaking to see it. School officials don't yet know the full extent of the damage or the potential impact on the upcoming school year.

Deaths

Posted August 8, 2024 at 10:21 AM EDT

Tropical Storm Debby is now responsible for at least one death in North Carolina.

Authorities in Wilson County say a suspected tornado touched down in the town of Lucama early Thursday morning. Search and rescue teams recovered the body of a missing person in a collapsed home there.

The National Weather Service has issued more than a dozen tornado warnings today in central North Carolina.

Nick Petro is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. He says the storm has also been producing heavy wind gusts in the Piedmont and Sandhills.

"This type of wind will not be uncommon in these heavier bands of rain so as one of these heavier bands of rain moves over your area, don't be surprised if you see another one of these gusts of over 40, maybe even as high as 50 miles per hour," Petro said.

Meanwhile, forecasters expect flooding over the next few days in the Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers and their tributaries.

Golf

Posted August 8, 2024 at 9:21 AM EDT

Mitchell Northam

/

WUNC

Tee times for the opening round of the Wyndham Championship at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro are delayed Thursday. The first tee time will not happen before 3 p.m., a spokesperson for the PGA Tour event said. Until then, the country club and golf course are closed.

Initially, the golf tournament was going to begin as scheduled on Thursday but without fans in attendance.

“This decision was a difficult one for us to make with our partners at the PGA TOUR, but everyone’s safety is our top priority,” Tournament Director Bobby Powell said. “The most-recent forecast looks like the storm could clear our area sometime Friday.”

The Wyndham Championship is the last stop on the PGA Tour this season before the 70-man FedEx Cup Playoffs begin next week. Several players, like South Carolina native Lucas Glover, need to play well at Wyndham to crack the field.

Players with North Carolina connections – including Wake Forest resident Akshay Bhatia, Raleigh native Webb Simpson, and Wake Forest University graduate Will Zalatoris – are among those competing in Greensboro this weekend.

Damage

Posted August 8, 2024 at 9:07 AM EDT

A falling tree smashed the windshield of two deputies patrol cars overnight as they surveyed flooded roads in a North Carolina county.

Bladen County officials posted images overnight of flooded and cracked roads in the county and downed trees.

The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that a tree fell on a patrol car, cracking the windshield. The two deputies inside were not injured.

The county also issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents of Bladenboro, with a shelter open at West Bladen High School.

I-95

Posted August 8, 2024 at 9:03 AM EDT

Interstate 95 in North Carolina has reopened after flooding shut down a part of one of the major highways along the East Coast on Thursday morning.

A portion of the highway around Fayetteville, North Carolina, was closed for about three hours after water topped the freeway, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.

About 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell in the area overnight.

An average of more than 50,000 vehicles a day pass through the stretch of I-95, the freeway that connects Florida to Maine.

Closures

Posted August 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM EDT

Over 50 roads across North Carolina have closed due to flooding, fallen trees and other severe weather effects from Tropical Storm Debby.

This includes several roads in Chatham, Robeson and Sampson counties. In Cumberland County, the Southbound I-95 lane is closed at mile marker 44. The Southbound I-85 lane is also closed in Gaston County at mile marker 20.

Several rivers in North Carolina are expected to flood Thursday as Tropical Storm Debby brings heavy rainfall to the state. The National Weather Service in Raleigh says river flooding is possible across all of central North Carolina.

The most significant flooding is likely along the Cape Fear, Upper Neuse and Tar River basins. Other rivers that will likely flood include the Haw, Rocky and Black rivers. The weather service says this flooding could last through next week.

Storm Damage

Posted August 8, 2024 at 6:54 AM EDT

A tornado has killed at least one person, and damaged several homes and a middle school in Wilson County.

According to county officials, the tornado touched down just before 3 a.m. in Lucama and heavily damaged Springfield Middle School. Four homes near Wiggins Mill and Lloyd Road, and a local church are also damaged.

Officials say to avoid these areas.

According to WRAL, another tornado touched down in Edgecombe County around 5:17 a.m.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh says the greatest tornado threat is along the I-95 corridor. Isolated tornados could also happen as far west as the Triangle area.

Closures Update

Posted August 8, 2024 at 6:48 AM EDT

Several school districts are closing for Tropical Storm Debby. Severe weather including heavy rains, flooding and high wind gusts are expected across the state.

Schools are closed Thursday in Bladen, Robeson and Guilford counties. There's also closures at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Wake and Orange County Schools.

Durham Public Schools are also closed Thursday, and all athletic practices and student activities are canceled. For DPS faculty and staff, it's an optional remote workday.

Meanwhile, Edgecombe and Cumberland County Schools will switch to remote learning days for students Thursday and Friday.

Power Outages

Posted August 8, 2024 at 6:43 AM EDT

More than 130,000 North Carolinians are without power this morning as Tropical Storm Debby brings severe weather to the state. Most of those people are Duke Energy customers.

The company says crews will work to restore service in areas where the conditions allow. If winds exceed 30 miles per hour, their crews will have to wait to work to address downed power lines.

Latest Conditions

Posted August 8, 2024 at 6:37 AM EDT

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby continues to batter North Carolina. There's a flash flood warning for most of the state.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh warns of life-threatening flooding in urban areas, highways and underpasses. Forecasters also predict winds of up to 40 miles per hour Thursday through Friday.

William Ray is the director of North Carolina's emergency management. He says flooding is expected to cause major impacts across the state.

"It is important for all North Carolinians to be aware of the conditions and to have a plan of action if you can no longer stay in your home," Ray said.

Ray is also urging the public to follow the guidance of local emergency officials, and to not drive through flooded roads.

The center of the storm is still moving slowly over the South Carolina coast, but Aaron Swiggett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, says Debby will pick up speed as it moves inland to the north.

"It may actually be a blessing that it's going to start increase its speed as it moves over top of central North Carolina," Swiggett said. "That will then not allow those heavy rain rates to stay over one location for too long."

Still, forecasters expect up to eight inches of rain in central North Carolina, which could lead to river flooding Friday and this weekend.

Posted August 7, 2024 at 5:17 PM EDT

Tropical Storm Debby is swirling over coastal Georgia and the Carolinas, taking its time before moving north. The system has already stirred up tornadoes and submerged streets in waist-high floodwaters.

Debby made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast early Monday as a hurricane. At least six people have died.

Tropical Storm Debby was lingering over coastal Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday, still dumping torrential rain in places before moving north.

The system has already stirred up tornadoes and submerged streets in waist-high floodwaters. The storm was forecast to move relatively slowly across Southern states, with huge rainfall totals possible in some areas.

The latest forecast says Debby could restrengthen over the Atlantic Ocean before its center moves inland again by late Wednesday or early Thursday. Debby made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast early Monday as a hurricane. At least six people have died.

North Carolinians should prepare for potentially severe flash floods and days of heavy rain, with up to 15 inches in the forecast before Tropical Storm Debby is done with the state, Gov. Roy Cooper said during a Wednesday news conference.

Debby's center will likely cross over areas of southeastern North Carolina devastated by flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018, and while Debby doesn't appear to pose as much of a threat, that could change as the storm moves north, he said.

While officials are paying close attention to southeastern North Carolina, the state's Emergency Management director William Ray said people in western parts of the state also need to look out for flooding risks.

"All North Carolinians across our state need to be prepared for a deluge, more rain than most of us see in a month or several months," Cooper said.

Five states have made emergency declarations as Tropical Storm Debby slowly churns up the Atlantic coast and drenches communities in the southeastern U.S.

States of emergency have been declared by governors in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Maryland also made a state of preparedness declaration that coordinates preparations for the storm without declaring a state of emergency.

Emergency declarations allow states to quickly respond to major storms and other disasters. The state's response can include providing direct assistance to local communities in the form of supplies and equipment.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has approved federal disaster assistance for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, according to news releases from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Tornado

Posted August 7, 2024 at 4:30 PM EDT

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has confirmed there was a tornado near the Pender and Sampson County line.

It occurred around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Posted August 7, 2024 at 2:12 PM EDT

Several school districts are closing for Tropical Storm Debby.

Severe weather including heavy rains, flooding and high wind gusts are expected across the state. Schools are closed Wednesday in Bladen, Robeson and Pender counties. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Durham Public Schools, Wake, Orange and Guilford County Schools will be closed Thursday. Meanwhile, Edgecombe and Cumberland County Schools will switch to remote learning days for students.

SE NC Concern

Posted August 7, 2024 at 2:10 PM EDT

Tropical Storm Debby pushed bad weather up the East Coast on Wednesday, colliding with other systems and bringing no respite to residents as far away as the Great Lakes and New Jersey, where heavy rain flooded highways and streets and stranded motorists.

The “imminent failure” of a dam in southeast Georgia was threatening to swamp a mobile home park and other areas downstream, the National Weather Service said in a flash flood warning Wednesday afternoon.

“If the dam breaks, flash flooding will occur immediately downstream of the dam,” the weather service said.

The Cypress Lake Dam is in Bulloch County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Savannah.

Another area of concern on Wednesday was southeastern North Carolina, where Hurricane Matthew caused a historic billion-dollar flood in 2016. Two years later, many of those records were broken during Hurricane Florence. Both storms killed dozens.

The National Weather Service warned up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain could fall west of Wilmington, North Carolina, in areas that already saw heavy rains overnight.

The center of Debby was over the Atlantic Ocean at midday Wednesday, 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said. The tropical storm could make a second landfall in either North Carolina or South Carolina, expected late Wednesday or early Thursday.

But its core was surrounded by drier air and the worst rainfall was falling hundreds of miles to the north, into eastern North Carolina before spreading into southeast Virginia. Both declared a state of emergency. Forecasters warned 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain could fall from South Carolina to Vermont through this weekend.

Debby is finally forecast to pick up speed Thursday before weakening inland as the weather moves north over North Carolina and Virginia into the Washington, D.C. area by Saturday.

Mic Smith

/

AP

Posted August 7, 2024 at 1:37 PM EDT

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is urging caution on roads and beaches in Dare County, due to the anticipated multiple days of heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Debby.

Some recommendations include not swimming until conditions improve, and not driving on off-road vehicle ramps. Officials advise visitors and residents to avoid the beach between the north end of Rodanthe and South Shore Drive, due to potential small to large house debris on the beach.

Preparedness

Posted August 7, 2024 at 12:27 PM EDT

North Carolinians should prepare for potentially severe flash floods and days of heavy rain, with up to 15 inches in the forecast before Tropical Storm Debby is done with the state, Gov. Roy Cooper said during a Wednesday news conference.

Debby’s center will likely cross over areas of southeastern North Carolina devastated by flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018, and while Debby doesn't appear to pose as much of a threat, that could change as the storm moves north, he said.

While officials are paying close attention to southeastern North Carolina, the state’s Emergency Management director William Ray said people in western parts of the state also need to look out for flooding risks.

“All North Carolinians across our state need to be prepared for a deluge, more rain than most of us see in a month or several months,” Cooper said.

Voluntary evacuations are under way in some regions, and about 350 North Carolina National Guard soldiers have been deployed to assist in storm recovery, Cooper said. There are also 17 water rescue teams stationed at the ready in the eastern and central parts of North Carolina, Ray said.

Safety

Posted August 7, 2024 at 12:15 PM EDT

Cumberland County is opening five emergency shelters Wednesday afternoon for residents impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

The area is expected to receive up to 15 inches of rain from the storm, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.

Roadways, rivers and other low-lying areas are likely to be flooded. The Cape Fear River Basin is forecast to have moderate to major flooding.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin declared a state of emergency Tuesday. He said the city is urging people to not drive in flooded waters.

"Turn around. Don't drown,” Colvin said. “Make sure that you have made preparations in the event that there's a loss of power, so that you have sufficient supplies to sustain yourself. And if you live in a vulnerable area that's prone to flooding, take advantage of some of the shelters that we have open."

Cumberland County will open four emergency shelters in Fayetteville. They will be located at Mac Williams Middle School, Pine Forest High School and the Smith Recreation Center. A pet-friendly shelter will be opened at the Westover Recreation Center.

Another pet-friendly shelter will also be opened in Hope Mills at South View High School.

Residents seeking shelter should bring blankets, medications, and several changes of clothes, and other essentials.

Colvin said it's also important for residents to prepare emergency disaster kits in case they have to shelter in place.

This is an easily accessible bag that includes necessities like medication, non-perishable food, and water. The supplies should last for at least three to seven days.

SC Flooding

Posted August 7, 2024 at 11:57 AM EDT

Tropical Storm Debby is creeping over land with winds that would never make headlines. But the storm’s slow movement is adding to the devastating impact of its heavy rains, as it inundates already-soaked areas of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.

With the storm predicted to meander along the coast, this week’s rainfall could be "historic" — measured in feet, not inches, in some areas, according to forecasts.

The storm “is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches, with maximum amounts of 25 inches” in parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, the NHC said on Tuesday, warning of the threat of “catastrophic flooding.”

The effects — including washed-out roads and compromised dams — will likely be similar to recent storms such as Hurricane Florence, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said on Tuesday.

"We're confident there's gonna be flooding. We're confident there's gonna be a lot of rain," McMaster said in a news briefing. "The only question is, how much is it gonna be?"

Read more here at NPR.

Roy Cooper

Posted August 7, 2024 at 11:44 AM EDT

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and other state emergency officials are urging the public to be prepared for Tropical Storm Debby.

The heaviest rainfall from the slow moving storm is expected Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

"Be sure to secure your home and belongings, and have a way to stay informed," said Cooper at a Wednesday morning press conference. "Never drive through flooded roads or around barricades. Now is not the time to see if your car floats, because it doesn't."

Cooper is also urging the public to follow the guidance of local emergency officials, especially in the case of an evacuation order.

About 350 troops with the North Carolina National Guard are on standby, along with 17 swift water rescue teams.

State emergency management Director William Ray said major impacts from flooding are expected to continue for the next several days.

"We are working to stage resources to support the healthcare infrastructure across the state," Ray said. "Please call 911 only for emergencies. We wish to keep emergency lines open for those with life threatening situations."

Peyton Sickles

/

for WUNC

OBX Caution

Posted August 7, 2024 at 11:02 AM EDT

There's a high risk of rip currents Wednesday for some parts of the Outer Banks to Surf City ahead of Tropical Storm Debby.

Some places at risk include Rodanthe, Buxton, and Ocraco*ke, as well as Emerald Isle, Pine Knoll Shores, and North Topsail Beach.

Meanwhile, there is a moderate rip current risk for Duck, Southern Shores, and Nags Head.

Swimming is not recommended until conditions improve, the National Park Service says. According to a release, visitors and residents should avoid the beach between the north end of Rodanthe and South Shore Drive, due to potential small to large house debris on the beach.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is urging caution on roads and beaches over the next few days, due to the potential for heavy rainfall that Debby might bring. Some areas of NC Highway 12 on Hatteras could contain several inches of standing water, the National Park Service says.

Additionally, the National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Advisory for eastern North Carolina through 2 p.m. Friday.

All Seashore campgrounds are still open as of Wednesday morning.

FLOOD WATCH

Posted August 7, 2024 at 10:57 AM EDT

Forecasters expect the heaviest rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning.

A flood watch remains in effect from central to northeastern North Carolina as the storm slowly churns north toward the South Carolina coast. Debby's outer bands have already dumped rain in North Carolina, and the Piedmont could get up to 8 inches of additional rain through Saturday morning.

Nick Petro is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh.

"I wouldn't want to be on the road anywhere tonight and probably tomorrow morning's commute," Petro said. "It's going to be a mess from the Triangle back to the Triad back down toward Charlotte. If you're in this area during the morning commute, it's going to be coming down."

Meanwhile, winds of up to 40 miles per hour are likely to follow the heavy rain from late Thursday into Friday morning.

Debby Approaching

Posted August 7, 2024 at 9:48 AM EDT

Debby’s center is off the Georgia coast and is expected to move back inland over South Carolina on Thursday, the hurricane center said. The main rainfall threat includes the eastern half of South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina through Friday.

Debby was spinning back out to sea Tuesday afternoon and was expected to slowly churn just off South Carolina for more than 24 hours. Forecasters said 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimeters) of rain could fall in rural areas of northern South Carolina and southern North Carolina.

The area of most concern Wednesday was in southeastern North Carolina, where Hurricane Matthew caused a historic billion-dollar flood in 2016. Two years later, many of those records were broken during Hurricane Florence. Both storms killed dozens.

The National Weather Service warned up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain could fall west of Wilmington, North Carolina, in areas that already saw heavy rains overnight.

Several areas along North Carolina's coastline are prone to flooding, such as Wilmington and the Outer Banks. Virginia could see impacts including strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.

Mic Smith

/

AP

Closures

Posted August 7, 2024 at 9:40 AM EDT

Some colleges in North Carolina are closing this week due to Tropical Storm Debby.

Cape Fear and Southeastern Community Colleges are closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Beginning Wednesday at noon, Johnston Community College will close and will remain closed until Monday.

Robeson and Brunswick Community Colleges closed Tuesday and will have remote learning for students through Thursday.

Several school districts are closing for Tropical Storm Debby too. Severe weather including heavy rains, flooding and high wind gusts are expected across the state.

Schools are closed Wednesday in Bladen, Robeson and Pender counties. Beaufort and Cumberland County Schools will be closed Thursday and have remote learning days for students.

Several counties and cities have declared a state of emergency ahead of severe weather expected from Tropical Storm Debby. This includes the city of Fayetteville, Orange and Moore counties.

FEMA REQUEST

Posted August 7, 2024 at 9:37 AM EDT

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper requested special disaster assistance from FEMA in preparation for Tropical Storm Debby, which was granted by President Joe Biden on Wednesday morning.

The federal assistance will provide financial support and emergency supplies to the state. This includes generators, food and water as well as evacuation assistance, sheltering and water rescue teams.

A news release from FEMA says, "Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursem*nt for mass care including evacuation and shelter support, will be provided at 75% federal funding for" 51 North Carolina counties.

Additionally, "Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75% federal funding for Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Stokes, Surry, Tyrrell, Washington and Yadkin counties."

The pre-landfall disaster declaration will provide federal assistance and emergency supplies to the state. This includes generators, food and water, as well as evacuation assistance, sheltering and water rescue teams.

Cooper declared a state of emergency on Monday.

2024 election

Posted August 7, 2024 at 9:33 AM EDT

JD Vance is canceling two campaign stops in North Carolina due to Tropical Storm Debby.

The Republican vice-presidential nominee was going to visit Raleigh and Oakboro this week. His team says these events will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Vice President Kamala Harris was also supposed to visit Raleigh on Thursday. Her campaign team announced Monday night this visit was being postponed, also because of Debby.

Heavy Rainfall

Posted August 7, 2024 at 9:32 AM EDT

Duke Energy says it has nearly 7,000 workers in place across the Carolinas to respond to power outages, ahead of Tropical Storm Debby.

The utility says if winds exceed 30 miles per hour, their crews will have to wait to work to address downed power lines.

Thursday is expected to have the heaviest rainfall due to Tropical Storm Debby.

Much of Central and Eastern North Carolina are currently under a flood watch and flood warning for the rest of the week. On top of flooding, these areas could also see some high winds and isolated tornadoes.

Nick Petro is a meteorologist with National Weather Service in Raleigh.

"The best thing to do is just, you know, not even try to venture out of travel if you can avoid it." Petro says. "But also let folks know that be prepared for power outages, because even though we're only expecting, even though wind is going to be a lesser impact, you know, when the ground's like a sponge, trees will just fall over on their own, even without the wind, when it's so wet, right? And that's how you lose power."