Tropical Storm Debby has been downgraded to a tropical depression after leaving at least seven people dead in its wake across the US southeast this week.
Debby is spiralling northward toward Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, where it is forecast to spawn a few tornadoes and threaten more flash flooding on Friday.
The National Weather Service said in a bulletin that while Debby would continue to weaken through Sunday, "heavy rain, flash and river flooding effects will continue over the next two days as the storm begins its northeastward acceleration".
Tropical Depression — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) #Debby Advisory 26: Major Flood Threat Continues For Portions of the Carolinas And Western Virginia. Future Advisories Will Be Issued By the Weather Prediction Center. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJAugust 8, 2024
Debby made landfall on Thursday for a second time this week, arriving on shore again near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, three days after slamming into Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane, then travelling across northern Florida and Georgia to the Atlantic Coast.
Debby could spawn a few tornadoes in North Carolina and Virginia on Thursday and early Friday, including in the vicinity of Washington DC, the NWS said.
Debby was forecast to bring another 7cm of rain on Thursday to parts of eastern South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said, with total amounts in some spots exceeding 64cm since Monday. Rainfall totals could reach 38cm in southeastern North Carolina and 25cm in parts of Virginia.
By the weekend, Debby could produce up to 15cm of rain from Maryland into northern Vermont. But New York City will avoid the worst of the storm.