Tropical storm Debby is meandering just off the South Carolina coastline this Wednesday morning. Indications are that it will make landfall again over the Grand Strand and then move northward. The track of Debby's remnants over the next couple of days has shifted westward in the latest forecast model runs. Thus it is a prime example of why folks should stay current with weather forecasts and not assume that nothing will change over the course of the day.
That westward shift won't keep heavy rain out of Mecklenburg county. This map from NWS Wakefield shows expected rainfall totals locally through Saturday morning:
As a result the National Weather Service has already issued a Flood Watch which begins at 8 o'clock this evening and lasts through midnight Friday. In addition, this westward shift in the track will put Mecklenburg county on the side of the storm which can produce tornadoes. Thus this outlook map from the Storm Prediction Center for Thursday is important to note:
Rain will begin this Wednesday morning and increase in intensity as Debby's remnants draw closer this evening. Temperatures today through Friday will top out near 80 degrees each day under the cloud cover. Meanwhile easterly winds will increase from today's light breeze to gusts over 20 mph tomorrow and Friday. By itself that level of wind speed won't do any damage, but with the soil being soaked by heavy rainfall trees could be uprooted. That could mean electrical outages if power lines are dragged down.
Recommendations: charge up all electronic devices today, keep abreast of changing weather conditions, and be alert to flooded roads ("Turn Around, Don't Drown"). Have several ways of receiving weather warnings, one of which is strongly recommended to be a battery powered NOAA weather radio. And if a tornado warning is issued for your location - which may occur after dark Thursday - take shelter in the lowest part of a sturdy building, putting as many walls between you and the outdoors as possible.
Be safe!
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