Current Snapshot

The Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Tuesday, August 6, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Activity Report for the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico

CURRENT TROPICAL CYCLONES:

Tropical Cyclone 04L (Debby)…is located about 75 miles east-southeast of Savannah, Georgia…according to the NHC Advisory number 19A

Tropical Cyclone 04L (Debby)

DEBBY A LITTLE STRONGER…MAJOR FLOOD THREAT CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF THE CAROLINA’S

Debby is moving toward the east-southeast near 5 mph (7 km/h). A slow motion toward the east and then north is expected today through Thursday night. On the forecast track, the center of Debby is expected to slowly move away from the coast of Georgia and South Carolina tonight, continue to drift offshore through early Thursday, and then move inland over South Carolina on Thursday.

Satellite-derived wind data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is forecast while the center of Debby remains offshore. Weakening is expected Thursday night and Friday after landfall.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) mainly to the southeast and south of the center.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WINDS: Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the tropical storm warning area along the Georgia coast for the next few hours. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue along the coast of South Carolina within the tropical storm warning area through Thursday night. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning area in North Carolina beginning early Wednesday. Tropical Storm conditions are possible within the Tropical Storm Watch area in North Carolina beginning Wednesday.

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Altamaha Sound, GA to Cape Fear, NC…2-4 feet

RAINFALL: Debby is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches, with maximum amounts of 25 inches, bringing areas of catastrophic flooding across portions of the eastern half of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina through Friday.

From northern North Carolina through portions of the Mid-Atlantic States, 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 12 inches, are expected through Sunday morning. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible.

An additional scattered 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 4 inches is possible across western portion of the Central Florida Peninsula and southeast Georgia today which may aggravate any ongoing flooding conditions across that vicinity.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible over coastal South Carolina and coastal southeast North Carolina today through Wednesday morning.

SURF: Large swells will continue to affect the Southeast U.S. coast through the end of the week. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

>>> Southwestern Gulf of Mexico:

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located over the southwestern Caribbean Sea remain disorganized. The northern portion of this tropical wave could reach the southwestern Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, but any development should be slow to occur.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…10 percent