Tropical Storm Debby Hits the East Coast: What to Expect in New England

Tropical Storm Debby has made its final landfall overnight, but the effects are still felt across the East Coast. While initially the storm appeared to be bringing severe weather, the forecast for Massachusetts is now looking much better than before.

According to a meteorologist from the region, while we can expect a few showers, it will be nothing like what was originally expected. He mentioned that southern parts of Massachusetts could see around half an inch to an inch of rain, but it should move through fairly quickly.

As of 2 a.m., Debby was located near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, with maximum winds hitting 50 mph. The storm is set to drop significant rain in the Carolinas today, with predicted totals of 4 to 8 inches.

The bulk of rain for New England is anticipated to arrive Friday night and continue into Saturday morning. The latest track shows the center of the storm reaching Vermont around 2 a.m. Saturday. However, once the rain wraps up on Saturday, people can look forward to nice, sunny weather in Massachusetts.

Despite the improvements in the forecast, authorities are still concerned about potential flooding, especially because many areas are already experiencing such conditions from previous storms in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Heavy rainfall can quickly lead to flash flooding with just a small additional amount of rain, as the ground remains incredibly saturated. Meteorologists warn that just 1.5 to 2.5 inches of new rainfall could cause dangerous flash flooding in New England.

As Tropical Storm Debby moves inland, it continues to produce heavy rain bands across the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Flash flood warnings are in effect in these areas, and a tornado watch has been issued for parts of eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia.

Debby is expected to weaken as it pushes further inland, but it will continue to spread its moisture northward into the mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast through early Saturday, leading to heavy rain across those regions.

For those living in flood-prone areas, it’s important to stay alert and pay attention to updates and warnings. It’s never safe to drive through flooded roads, as many flood-related deaths happen in vehicles.