“ATLANTA: “Tropical Storm Debby Deluges US Southeast”, Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rain to coastal Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday (Aug 6), prompting warnings of ‘catastrophic flooding’ from the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s impact threatens major cities such as Charleston and Savannah, potentially leading to significant disruptions and damage across the southeastern United States.”
At least six people have died in Florida and Georgia in the wake of the storm, which is expected to linger over the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts for days.
“Debby is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches (25cm and 51cm), with maximum amounts of 25 inches (63.5cm), bringing areas of catastrophic flooding across portions of the eastern half of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina through Friday,” the NHC said.
The storm featured 64kmh winds as it chugged along slowly at 8kmh to the northeast, with its centre located about 80km east of Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday night. Heavy rainfall could cause flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic through Sunday, the Miami-based centre said.
More than 20cm of rain have already fallen on Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia, the National Weather Service said. Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina, have received between 25cm and 30cm of rain so far, the weather service said, with more on the way.
In Savannah, rain was coming down hard outside the landmark Bellwether House, a 16-room bed-and-breakfast in the city’s historic district, but general manager Victoria Hill was not too concerned.
