Tropical Storm Debby moves up East Coast as flood threat continues for Carolinas

The Brief

Tropical Storm Debby is moving up the East Coast, bringing heavy rain to areas as far as the Great Lakes and New Jersey.
Debby is expected to make a second landfall in South Carolina sometime late Wednesday night.
The center of the storm was over the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon.

Tropical Storm Debby moved up the East Coast on Wednesday, clashing with other weather systems and bringing no relief to residents as far away as the Great Lakes and New Jersey, where heavy rain flooded areas.

Emergency officials warned residents of potential flash flooding in New York City, with multiple water rescues being reported in the area, according to the Associated Press.

The storm is slightly strengthening and expected to drop heavy rain along the Eastern Seaboard, which could lead to severe flooding as rainfall amounts could exceed 25 inches, FOX Weather reported, citing the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

FILE-Homes sit on a flooded street due to Tropical Storm Debby on August 6, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)

According to FOX Weather, maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts as Debby approaches the coast of South Carolina for a second landfall sometime late Wednesday night, bringing strong winds with gusts of 40-65 mph along the upper South Carolina coast and up toward Cape Fear, North Carolina.

The center of the storm was over the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday afternoon east-southeast of Charleston, AP reported, citing the National Hurricane Center said.

Debby could make a second landfall in either North Carolina or South Carolina, expected late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Officials in Charleston, South Carolina, lifted a curfew Wednesday after heavy rains caused flooding and closed roads on Monday and Tuesday.

Three-hour radar loop. Warning boxes are color coded as: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in yellow, Tornado Warnings in red, Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado in purple, Flash Flood Warnings in green and Flash Flood Emergencies in pink. (Credit:

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Tropical Storm Warnings are still in effect for the South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina coasts. FOX Weather notes that 40-60 mph wind gusts are impacting the coast from Myrtle Beach through Cape Fear, North Carolina, through Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service reported that up to 9 inches of rain could fall west of Wilmington, North Carolina, in areas that already saw heavy rains overnight, per the AP.

A look at the tropical alerts issued as Debby is set to make a second landfall. (FOX Weather)

According to the AP, a state of emergency was in effect for both North Carolina and Virginia. Maryland issued a state of preparedness declaration that coordinates preparations for the storm without declaring a state of emergency.

Here's a look at rain totals still to come from Debby. (FOX Weather)

On Monday, Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the Gulf Coast of Florida. At least six people have died due to Debby, five of them because of traffic accidents or from fallen trees, according to the AP.