After causing at least six deaths in the Southeast, Debby weakened to a tropical depression on Thursday. Despite the downgrade, the storm continued to pose a threat as it moved northward, spreading heavy rain and tornado potential along its path.
The center of the system was located 45 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon. However, its impacts were felt across a wide area, stretching from the Carolinas to southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey as it accelerated towards the Northeast.
A tornado watch was issued for parts of North Carolina extending to the DC-Baltimore region. Throughout Thursday evening, several tornado warnings were issued as the storm generated thunderstorms with embedded rotation, including one for an observed tornado near Wilmington, Delaware.
Flood watches and warnings were prevalent along the Eastern Seaboard as heavy downpours developed over already saturated areas. Flood warnings extended all the way to the US-Canada border, with forecasts predicting several inches of rain in upstate New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire through Saturday.
Debby's impact in the Northeast followed a tragic event in North Carolina, where a tornado caused the death of a man in Lucama. The tornado also inflicted damage to homes and a school in the vicinity, located approximately 35 miles southeast of Raleigh.
Since making landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, Debby has unleashed over a foot of rain in parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The excessive rainfall has led to river flooding, road closures, and numerous rescue operations. Additionally, the region is bracing for potentially dangerous heat in the upcoming days, further complicating recovery efforts.
As the storm progresses towards the Northeast, it serves as a stark reminder of the escalating impacts of human-induced climate change. The situation continues to evolve, with authorities closely monitoring Debby's trajectory and its potential consequences.
