Georgia, South Carolina brace for 'potentially historic rainfall' from Debby after storm smacks Florida
A state of emergency has been declared in Georgia and South Carolina ahead of impacts from Hurricane Debby. Forecasts call for upwards of 30 inches of rain in parts of both states.
Hurricane Debby forms in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Florida landfall
Debby has strengthened into a hurricane late Sunday ahead of landfall to Florida's Big Bend on Monday morning.
While most of the attention is on the expected impacts to Florida this weekend from Hurricane Debby, the storm is also forecast to bring widespread impacts to the southeastern U.S. coast with flooding rain, damaging wind and dangerous storm surge all possible.
Debby is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Monday as a low-end hurricane. Once the storm moves inland into northern Florida, there is uncertainty about the storm’s next chapter.
Weakening steering currents will cause the storm to slow down over northern Florida.
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"Every single computer model shows a trend of this storm slowing down dramatically," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said.
WHY IS THE RIGHT SIDE OF A HURRICANE MORE DANGEROUS?
The forecast has the storm drifting somewhere along the southeastern U.S. coastline through the middle of the week, if not longer. Some projections take Debby back out over the Atlantic, where it could gain steam again.
"If we have a tropical storm emerge over the Atlantic, we have a very warm channel of water called the Gulf Stream," Merwin said. "And if the storm sets up right over it, it will be able to feed off of that warm water, and slow down, and just continue to pummel the Carolinas. It will also have enough heat content to possibly be a hurricane at that point."
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A rejuvenated Debby would bring a dangerous mix of days of heavy rains, strong wind and even feet of storm surge along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas.
"There’s a possibility that this storm stalls offshore, and that’s really the worst-case scenario, but that’s the worst-case scenario that you need to be prepared for," Merwin said. "Any time you see a forecast (cone) that looks like a big old fishbowl, that means two things: a slowing storm or a stalled out storm. Both just equal a long duration of heavy rain, wind and unfortunately, if you have a storm stalling offshore, that means it could be strengthening and sitting offshore."
HURRICANES ERODE BEACHES BUT WHERE DOES ALL THAT SAND GO?
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The National Hurricane Center is warning of "potentially historic rainfall," with totals as high as 30 inches possible along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina.
The flash flooding risk Monday from the Florida coast up to southeast Georgia is at a Level 4 out of 4 on NOAA's Flash Flood risk scale. Tuesday sees a Level 4 risk from southeast Georgia up to Charleston and near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.
"This is the area of greatest concern where we can see that really heavy rainfall unfold," said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
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It’s too early to determine storm surge potential or how strong winds will be circling an eye wall, but as Florida takes the headlines this weekend, those along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia should start preparing for the possibility of tropical storm or hurricane conditions early next week.
State of emergency
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency for the Peach State ahead of the heavy rainfall.
"As the state prepares for a major storm system early this coming week, we urge all Georgians to take precautions to keep their families and property safe. I’ve issued a State of Emergency through Thursday, August 8," said Kemp.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster also declared a state of emergency for the state. He urged residents and visitors alike to closely monitor Debby and adjust plans accordingly.