Tropical Storm Debby has progressed into the U.S. Southeast, bringing prolonged heavy rainfall and creating the risk of flooding after impacting Florida with intense rain and strong winds. The storm has tragically led to the deaths of at least five individuals on Monday and is triggering flash floods in the historic cities of Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, along with other areas along the Atlantic Coast in the Southeast. Mayor Van Johnson of Savannah cautioned residents to prepare for a challenging day on Tuesday. Originally making landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, experts highlight that despite its wind speeds, the storm’s rainfall capacity is what poses a significant danger.
Although Debby has been downgraded over land due to losing energy from warm water – as tropical cyclones rely on warm water for their strength – a portion of its circulation was still interacting with water over the Atlantic on Tuesday, stated Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s center is anticipated to drift over the water off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina before moving back inland, potentially regaining strength. Tropical storm warnings have been issued from northeastern Florida to North Carolina, with a forecast for very heavy rainfall expected to cause severe flooding across southeastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and southeastern North Carolina by Friday. Pasch stated that when tropical cyclones move slowly, the accumulation of heavy rainfall in one area becomes the most concerning factor.
Debby’s center was situated over southeastern Georgia early Tuesday with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, moving northeast at approximately 7 mph. Predictions suggest some reinforcement on Wednesday and Thursday as Debby meanders offshore before making its way inland over South Carolina on Thursday. Charleston, South Carolina, has activated an emergency plan including the distribution of sandbags to residents, opening parking garages for car safety during flooding, and an online mapping system indicating flood-related road closures.
In Sarasota, Florida, about 500 individuals were rescued from flooded residences, exceeding the anticipated amount of rainfall in the area. Similarly, north of Sarasota, in Manatee County, 186 people were saved from floodwaters. Tragically, in south Georgia, a 19-year-old man lost his life when heavy winds and rain from Debby caused a large tree to fall onto a porch at a residence in Moultrie. The storm has resulted in roof damage and power line disruptions in Moultrie. As Debby progresses, authorities are closely monitoring its trajectory as it heads towards southeastern Georgia, expected to slow down significantly as it shifts eastward.
