Tropical Storm Debby to make second landfall in the US in South Carolina

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Debby was drifting over the Atlantic off the Carolinas early today and is expected to turn back toward South Carolina for a second landfall, the National Hurricane Center says. It is forecast to then slowly make its way north, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding.

On the forecast track, Debby would reach the South Carolina coast “by tonight or early Thursday,” the hurricane center said. “A faster motion toward the north and north-northeast across the Carolinas and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region is expected on Thursday and Friday.

“Some strengthening is possible today or tonight before the center of Debby reaches the coast of South Carolina,” forecasters said. “Weakening is forecast to begin on Thursday after the center moves inland.”

Debby could move up the middle of North Carolina, through Virginia and into the Washington area by Saturday, the center added. Debby was about 65 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, early Wednesday and about 90 miles east of Savannah, Georgia. It was crawling east at a mere 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.