Tropical Storm Debby makes 2nd landfall. National Hurricane Center tracking new tropical wave
Tropical Storm Debby made its second landfall early Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Landfall was made just before 2 a.m. near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. Sustained winds were 50 mph.
Debby's first landfall was as a hurricane in Steinhatchee, Florida, around 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5.
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Debby continues to bring a "major flood threat" to the Carolinas and western Virginia, although it has started to weaken and pick up speed.
Elsewhere in the tropics, the National Hurricane is monitoring a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic.
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 11 a.m. Aug. 8:
Tropical Storm Debby makes South Carolina landfall
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph, with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast, and Debby is likely to become a tropical depression this afternoon or evening. Debby should then merge with a front and become extratropical on Friday, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles from the center.
A few tornadoes may occur today and tonight from central and eastern North Carolina into central and southeast Virginia.
An overnight tornado left behind "extensive damage" at a middle school in Wilson County, North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service Raleigh.
The tornado threat will shift northward later today into central North Carolina and southern to central Virginia.
Debby is expected to produce an additional 3 to 6 inches of rainfall with locally higher amounts, across portions of southeastern North Carolina leading to maximum storm total amounts as high as 15 inches.
From portions of Maryland north through Upstate New York and Vermont, 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts to 6 inches, are expected through Friday night.
For the remainder of northern New England, 1 to 3 inches, with local amounts to 4 inches, are expected into Saturday.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Debby
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Colorado State University predicts 85% chance for hurricane activity Aug. 6-19
CSU forecasters predict there is an 85% chance for hurricane activity from Aug. 6 through Aug. 19.
"The primary threat formation area for major hurricanes in early- to mid-August is in the tropical Atlantic east of the Lesser Antilles."
The next two-week forecast will be released Aug. 20 for Aug. 20-Sept. 2.
On Aug. 6, CSU updated its seasonal forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, reducing the predicted number of named storms from 25 to 23 but maintaining its forecast for 12 hurricane and six major hurricanes.
What else is out there and how likely is it to strengthen?
Tropical wave: An area of low pressure could form in the central or western tropical Atlantic Ocean early next week.
Some development of this system is possible while it approaches the Lesser Antilles during the early to middle part of next week and moves generally west-northwestward toward the Greater Antilles thereafter.
Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
Formation chance through 7 days: low, 30 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until a there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Who is likely to be impacted?
It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to Florida or the U.S. from the tropical wave in the Atlantic.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Tropics update: NHC tracking Debby, tropical wave
