COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tropical Stormy Debby has made landfall in South Carolina and will push through the state the rest of the day, bringing with it some risk of showers. But by the end of the day the storm will be out of the state and the weather will be improving dramatically.
Right now the storm has 50 mile an hour winds as it pushes through the state after making landfall near Bulls Bay, SC just before 2 a.m. As it has since late Monday, it will continue to dump heavy rains and brings a risk for flash flooding and potential major hazards on roadways and low-lying areas.
Here's a look at your WHEN-IMPACT-NEED information for the next few hours.
WHEN:
Early Thursday morning some dry air pushed into the state that got rid of some of the moisture over South Carolina. As a result, rainfall projections that had been made a day earlier were dramatically scaled downward. Satellite/radar composites show the bulk of Debby's rains are now falling in North Carolina and even Virginia.
That said, there still is rain from the system falling in South Carolina and there remains the risk for isolated flash flooding. But the overall threat from the storm has diminished.
Now that the storm's on shore, it will continue to push to the northeast throughout the day, picking up forward speed as it does. By the early evening, the center of circulation will be near the border between the Carolinas.
IMPACT:
As Debby moves through the state, flash flooding is still going to be a potential threat.
The worst of the rain is projected through the early morning. The Weather Prediction Center's flood watch remains in effect until Friday morning along with a river flood warning as river levels continue to rise.
NEED:
It is recommended that individuals refrain from driving through floodwaters, especially if there are fallen power lines present. The expression "Turn around, don't drown!" is a crucial reminder of this safety precaution.
Moreover, it's crucial to have an immediate evacuation plan ready in case you are instructed to leave.
