Current Snapshot

The Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Monday, August 5, 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 25 miles west of Brunswick, Georgia…according to the NHC Advisory number 15A

Tropical Cyclone 04L (Debby)

CENTER OF DEBBY OVER SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA, GETTING CLOSER TO THE COAST…MAJOR FLOOD THREAT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS

Debby is moving toward the northeast near 7 mph (11 km/h). A turn toward the east is expected on Tuesday, followed by a turn to the north at a slow forward speed on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center will move across southeastern Georgia tonight, and then off the Georgia coast Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the South Carolina coast on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slight weakening is forecast tonight or early Tuesday. Some
re-strengthening is possible on Wednesday and Thursday when Debby is off the southeastern U.S. coast.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WINDS: Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the tropical storm warning area along the Florida and Georgia Atlantic coast through this morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected along the coast of South Carolina within the tropical storm warning area by this morning. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area in North Carolina beginning Wednesday night.

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…

Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Cape Fear, NC…2-4 ft

RAINFALL: Debby is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches, with maximum amounts of 30 inches, bringing areas of catastrophic flooding across portions of eastern Georgia, the coastal plain of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina through Wednesday.

Across portions of central and northeast North Carolina, 6 to 12 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 18 inches, are expected through Saturday morning. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with significant river flooding expected.

An additional scattered 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 4 inches is possible across western portions of the Central Florida Peninsula which may aggravate any ongoing flooding conditions across that area.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible over southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina tonight through Tuesday.

SURF: Swells generated by Debby are expected to affect much of the Gulf coast of Florida through tonight. Swells will continue to affect the Southeast U.S. coast through the middle of the week. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

>>> East of the Windward Islands:

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located over the eastern Caribbean Sea remain disorganized. Any development of this system should be slow to occur during the next couple of days while it moves westward over the eastern and central Caribbean Sea.

Environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development later this week as the system moves across the western Caribbean Sea or the southern Gulf of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent