At a Glance
- Tropical Storm Debby remains a dangerous flood threat.
- Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia are under states of emergency.
- At least six deaths are being linked to the storm.
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At least six people are dead in Florida and Georgia and communities in South Carolina were covered in water Tuesday after what was Hurricane Debby continued a slow creep up the East Coast, dumping well over a foot of rain in some spots along the way.
The storm spawned at least two tornadoes, shut down roadways in several cities, flooded homes and prompted fears of more than one dam collapse.
(MORE: The Latest Forecast For Debby | Debby Maps Tracker)
Here are our live updates from Tuesday:
(7:56 p.m. ET) Debby Remains A Serious Threat In South Carolina, And Beyond
From weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman:
Wednesday, Debby's center will crawl just off the South Carolina coast. Bands of locally heavy rain will continue to wrap around Debby from southeast Virginia to South Carolina and eastern Georgia.
However, there's an increasing concern that once Debby wraps moisture into an approaching cold front, more flooding rain is possible in the Northeast as far northern New England Friday into Saturday. That could include recently flood-ravaged areas of Vermont.
(7:22 p.m. ET) At Least Two Tornadoes Confirmed In South Carolina
The National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina, has confirmed at least two tornadoes spawned by Tropical Storm Debby. They hit in Moncks Corner, the county seat of Berkeley County, and in the tourist area of Edisto Beach located between Charleston and Hilton Head Island.
Damage assessments and the rating process are ongoing.
(6:34 p.m. ET) Military Housing Area Flooded Near Savannah
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, both near Savannah, Georgia, were closed yesterday and today due to the storm. Five families asked to be moved due to flooding in the Wilson Acres housing area at the airfield, and people were evacuated from two on-base campgrounds.
(6:09 p.m. ET) Charleston Hopes To Lift Curfew Tomorrow
Charleston Mayor William Cogswell says the city hopes to make an announcement by 8 a.m. tomorrow morning on whether the curfew will be continued or not. It's currently in place until 7:30 a.m.
“I don’t want to have this curfew in place any longer than we have to," Cogswell said at a news conference happening right now.
Charleston Police Chief Chito Walker said 45 roadways remained closed, down from a high of 89 earlier in the day.
(5:26 p.m. ET) Virginia Governor Declares State Of Emergency
"As we prepare for Tropical Storm Debby, I urge all Virginians and visitors to stay informed, follow local emergency guidelines, and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their families and communities," Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a news release.
“It's crucial that we work together and remain vigilant during these times to minimize the impact of the storm. The effects of Debby are far-reaching, and our neighboring states are facing significant challenges."
(5:21 p.m. ET) Nearly 100 Reports Of Flooding In One South Carolina County
There are more than 80 reports of flooded roadways across Colleton County, South Carolina, since early Monday evening. The county includes the towns of Walterboro, Hendersonville and Edisto Beach, where a tornado last night damaged several buildings.
At least one home is reported to be flooded in nearby Hilton Head Island.
Flooded homes are also being reported in neighboring Hampton County.
(4:50 p.m. ET) Debby Slows Down Even More
Tropical Storm Debby is sitting about 10 miles east of Savannah, Georgia, according to the just-released 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph.
That's very similar to Debby's 2 p.m. update except that the storm is moving even slower now, tracking at just 3 mph, or roughly the walking speed of a human.
That's typically not good news for potential rainfall and flooding.
(4:49 p.m. ET) Curfew Lifted In Savannah
The city has lifted a curfew, but is asking people to continue to avoid some areas where cleanup work is ongoing. Some roads remain flooded and floodwaters have also entered some homes.
Scattered power outages also remain in some areas.
Three shelters are open in Chatham County, where Savannah is located. About 100 people are in shelters, county officials said in an afternoon news conference.
(4:38 p.m. ET) South Carolina Dam Situation Updated
Colleton County, South Carolina, Fire Rescue posted this update about an hour ago, after an earlier message urged residents in some areas to evacuate: "For clarification, the CodeRed Alert and social media release from this morning stating the 'McGrady Dam has the potential to fail' was only a precautionary statement, and was enacted to alert the residents in the area. The dam is currently holding."
(4:09 p.m. ET) Man Dies While Riding Out Storm With Dog
The body of a man who tried to ride out Debby on a sailboat was found in Florida.
Brian Clough anchored about 50 feet offshore from a park in the town of Gulfport, which sits on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Tampa Bay. His dog, with him as the storm moved by, survived.
Clough's death is the sixth connected to Debby.
(3:58 p.m. ET) Paddling Through The Streets Of Charleston
While most people are inside and at least one shelter is filled to capacities, some people in Charleston are finding ways to venture out.
(3:35 p.m. ET) Wild Encounter On Hilton Head Island
From weather.com writer Jenn Jordan:
Debby's deluge turned parts of Hilton Head Island into alligator crossings. Video taken by a driver shows a massive alligator interrupting traffic as it strolled across partially flooded roads. Hilton Head Island has been inundated by torrential rain and flooding as Tropical Storm Debby passes through.
The National Weather Service has warned of continued storm surge and flooding rains in the surrounding areas, keeping residents on high alert (for rain and for gators!).
(3:01 p.m. ET) 'Mother Nature Wants Her Land Back'
Eight to 14 inches of rain has already fallen across the Charleston area and heavy rain is likely to continue through the rest of the week as Debby lingers over the East Coast.
Charleston City Councilmember Michael Seekings spoke to The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore.
"We got plenty of water in our streets and I want to let people know out there, please stay away from downtown Charleston until we get things cleared up," Seekings said.
He added that the timing of the rain so far has helped, since it hasn't coincided with high tide.
Seekings' district includes some of the most flood-prone parts of the lower Charleston peninsula.
"It used to be marsh," he said. "Mother Nature wants her land back."
(2:31 p.m. ET) Where's Debby Now?
Tropical Storm Debby is slowly crawling near the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. As of 2 p.m., the storm was located about 20 miles southeast of Savannah and 80 miles southwest of Charleston. Maximum sustained winds were 40 mph.
Debby is moving at a snail's pace of about 5 mph. Slow-moving hurricanes are considered the worst type of storms because of the massive flooding they can bring as they sit over one location for potentially days at a time.
(2:22 p.m. ET) Charleston Shelter Full
At least one shelter in Charleston County, South Carolina, is at full capacity as residents seek safety from flooding in the city. The shelter at
Matilda Dunston Elementary School in the city of North Charleston is one of two open in the area. A third was expected to open this afternoon, according to a social media update posted about an hour ago.
(2:03 p.m. ET) Debby Brings Nearly 19 Inches Of Rain To Florida
The community of Parrish in Manatee County, Florida, received 18.86 inches of rain since Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The area is just to the south of Tampa Bay.
Here are a look at some other top rainfall totals from states flooded by Debby:
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Florida
-Sarasota, 17.78 inches
-Pinellas Park, 14.4 inches
-Clearwater Beach, 13.41 inches
-Lakewood Ranch, 12.92 inches
Georgia
-Rincon, 11.09 inches
-Springfield, 10.38 inches
-Blitchton, 10.46 inches
-Savannah, 8.5 inches
South Carolina
-Green Pond, 14.02 inches
-Edisto Beach, 12.42 inches
-Beaufort, 11.16 inches
-Charleston, 11 inches
(1:38 p.m. ET) Parris Island Marines Sheltering In Place
Marines and trainees at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are under orders to shelter in place for at least the next 24 hours, according to an update posted to social media about 20 minutes ago. Recruits scheduled to report to the base this week are delayed until at least Thursday.
Parris Island is in Beaufort, South Carolina, about halfway between Charleston and Savannah, Georgia. About 20,000 Marine recruits enter bootcamp at the base each year.
(1:30 p.m. ET) Officials Provide Update On Potential Georgia Dam Failure
After warning of an imminent “catastrophic failure,” officials provided an update on the at-risk dam in Effingham County.
“We are on scene with Georgia DOT,” officials wrote in a Facebook post. “The dam has not failed but the sheer volume of water we have received has over-topped the dam and increased water flow under the highway.”
Any further updates are anticipated after the Department of Transportation completes their assessment.
(1:15 p.m. ET) Georgia Dam Reportedly At Risk Of ‘Catastrophic Failure’
According to the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency, a dam along Georgia Highway 30 is beginning to fail. The highway is reportedly being washed away and is being shut down by state officials. A stretch of the highway will be shut down until further notice in light of what officials say is an imminent “catastrophic failure.”
(12:42 p.m. ET) Storm Comes As We Enter Peak Of Hurricane Season
Debby kicks off what is typically the ramp-up to the busiest time of hurricane season. Ninety-three percent of hurricanes that make landfall in the U.S. do so from August through October, according to NOAA.
With 2024 forecast to potentially be one of the most active hurricane seasons on record, senior meteorologists Chris Dolce and Jonathan Erdman took a deeper dive here into stats from past hyperactive years.
Debby is the second hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year, following Beryl last month. The next storm would be named Ernesto.
(12:12 p.m. ET) Some Florida Counties Almost Completely Without Power
More than 109,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers remain without power in Florida, according to PowerOutage.us. That number includes nearly every account in the rural North Florida counties of Jefferson, Lafayette and Madison.
About 15,000 power outages are being reported in Georgia and 11,000 in South Carolina. The outages are mostly in the southern portions of both states.
(10:25 a.m. ET) Debby On Satellite
Dumping heavy rain over much of the Southeast, Debby is seen on satellite in a loop shared by CIRA.
(10:00 a.m. ET) Charleston Extends Curfew
The City of Charleston, South Carolina, says they are extending the issued curfew until 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, Wednesday, August 7. The Charleston Fire Department says residents should stay off of the roads except for in urgent situations.
(9:30 a.m. ET) What To Do At A Traffic Signal That Is Malfunctioning
As many locales across the Southeast face electricity outages due to the impacts of Debby, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office shared tips for navigating intersections that usually have working traffic signals.
(9:05 a.m. ET) 19-Year-Old Dies, Crushed By Tree
In Moultrie, Georgia, a 19-year-old man died after a tree fell onto his home Monday afternoon. Local outlet WALB indicates the incident occurred on 13th Avenue SW. Moultrie is a small town about 65 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida. No other deaths have been reported in Georgia, but at least four others have died in Florida.
(9:00 a.m. ET) Charleston Creeks Continue To Rise
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina, Church Creek in West Ashley is approaching moderate stage. Due to rising water levels, residents along Wolk Drive and Two Loch Place are expected to see impacts. Crosstowne Christian Church is also at risk of flooding.
(8:50 a.m. ET) South Carolina Dam At Risk Of Failure
Colleton County, South Carolina, officials are urging evacuation as the McGrady dam runs the risk of failure. “If you live between Edward Rd and Cavanaugh Rd south of Cane Branch Rd, you should evacuate the area immediately,” the department said in a release. “Cane Branch may be impassable.”
(8:20 a.m. ET) Flooding In Downtown Charleston
A local Charleston, South Carolina, news anchor shared video of deep water in the city's downtown area following a night of heavy rain. The water was reportedly deep enough at times that it came into the reporter's “tall boots.”
(8:15 a.m. ET) Debby 24 Hours Ago
Around this time yesterday, Debby made landfall as a hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region. Now, 24 hours later, it is centered over the southeastern Georgia coast. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said, “We're mainly left with lingering gusty showers around the I-75 corridor today with potential for hazardous heat.”
To read more about the danger of heat combined with power outages, click here.
(7:45 a.m. ET) New York Warns Of Flash Flooding
While the focus is on the Southeast where flooding is expected to be significant and damaging, the Northeast is also bracing for the effects of Debby. The NY Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services warned locals of, “Scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding this afternoon through early Wednesday morning in NYC and Long Island,” adding that additional moisture from Debby may arrive by Thursday with impacts lasting through Saturday.
(7:25 a.m. ET) Damage, Flipped Truck Seen In Florida
Damage from a suspected tornado in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, shows a flipped vehicle among other damage. Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. of Moncks Corner posted the photos online adding, “No injuries reported yet.”
(7:10 a.m. ET) Sarasota, Florida, County Operations Impacted
In Sarasota, Florida, where about 500 people were rescued from flooded homes Monday, county operations have been affected. Many parks were affected; a timeline for reopening those parks is unknown. Additionally, solid waste pickup will operate on a modified schedule.
(7:00 a.m. ET) Parking Garages Open In Charleston
To help car owners keep their vehicles safely above potentially rising floodwaters, the city of Charleston, South Carolina, has opened some parking garages for free parking. See details below to find out how to take advantage of this if you are a Charleston resident.
(5:30 a.m. ET) Southeast States Offering Sandbags
Heavy rain and flooding are expected to continue throughout the week. Local authorities in some places, like Charleston, South Carolina, are providing sandbags and opening shelters to assist residents.
(5 a.m. ET) What To Expect From Debby Today
Debby is centered over southeast Georgia as a tropical storm this morning. It's spreading heavy rain across coastal South Carolina, triggering flash flood warnings, including in the Charleston metro area.
A serious threat of flooding today extends from southeastern Georgia to coastal South Carolina and southeast North Carolina.
(4:30 a.m. ET) Power Outages Still Widespread
Though the number has dropped, more than 100,000 homes and businesses in Florida remain without power, according to PowerOutage.us. As of Monday, Duke Energy, a major provider in the state, said they had restored 171,000 customers so far.
(4 a.m. ET) Tornado Damage In South Carolina
A tornado caused significant damage in Edisto Beach and another suspected one hit Moncks Corner, South Carolina, overnight. Video showed homes with severe damage alongside wind-downed power poles and trees.
For yesterday’s coverage of Debby’s approach as a hurricane and landfall, click here.
Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
