The remnants Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in the Florida Big Bend on the 5th, lifted steadily northeast across southeast Georgia before turning north through the South Carolina coastal plain and the North Carolina Piedmont on the 7th and 8th. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches with locally higher amounts resulted in flash flooding across portions of western North Carolina.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
The remnants Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in the Florida Big Bend on the 5th, lifted steadily northeast across southeast Georgia before turning north through the South Carolina coastal plain and the North Carolina Piedmont on the 7th and 8th. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches with locally higher amounts resulted in flash flooding across portions of western North Carolina. In addition, very gusty winds caused scattered downed trees, which resulted in sporadic damage to structures.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 8, 2:46 AM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
346 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Tropical Cyclone Debby will gradually track northwest today with
the center expected to be near Charlotte, North Carolina by this
evening. Considerable rainfall is anticipated roughly along and
east of Interstate 77 today and tonight. The remnants of Debby
are expected to eventually move north of our area on Friday with
drier high pressure spreading over the region in its wake through
the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 345 AM Thursday: The leading edge of the rain shield
associated with Debby continues to spread westward across the
western Piedmont of NC and Charlotte metro area. The better rainfall
rates were starting to push into Union County, with some 1-1.5
inch per hour seen there. Sooner or later, this rain will start
to pile up and we will have to move into warning mode. We could
see a rapid development of flooding toward daybreak. Fortunately,
the ongoing forecast has this in hand and only a few tweaks were
made through daybreak.
With Debby now moving northward and back over land, we should
witness a transition toward a more extra-tropical low with the
precip shield shifting gradually to the left of the track. All
signs point to a continued westward expansion of the precip shield
across western NC and the nrn Upstate through the morning and
into the afternoon, so the precip probs follow accordingly. Minor
adjustments were made to handle this. The QPF has come down
again with this package...still sufficient to suggest a flooding
problem over the wrn Piedmont and especially the urban areas...but
less expansive. Thus, the Flood Watch will be left as-is for
now. Meanwhile, frequent gusts will continue into the afternoon in
advance of the center of Debby. We are looking a situation where
continued rain saturates the soil and makes it easier for the gusty
winds to start blowing down trees here and there. A Wind Advisory
is being contemplated and might be issued for all or part of the
area mainly east of the mtns and northeast of I-26 where it would
rain the most. The most uncertainty remains over the western half
of the fcst area later today, both in terms of how far west the
precip shield will make it, and how much instability/low level
convergence on the western periphery will be available to create
scattered showers. We allow for almost all the fcst area to get
at least a chance at a shower or thunderstorm for the time being,
but some of the CAMs are not as optimistic with the coverage or
generous with the amounts. Lots of folks over the mtns/northeast
GA/western Upstate are going to be left wondering what happened to
the storm. Temps will show a sharp difference between the below
normal areas east and the above normal areas west, depending on
where the rain shield stops. The new guidance seems to be in order
with taking the center of the circulation northward just to our
east during the late afternoon and evening. Once that passes, we
should see the main area of rain start to pull northward and out
of the fcst area, perhaps as early as midnight, but probably by
daybreak Friday. Wind should have diminished by then as well. Once
the remnants are off to the north on Friday, a developing westerly
flow favors some upslope enhancement for showers near the TN
border through the afternoon. Leftover convergence/moisture east
of the mtns suggest keeping a token slight chance/chance thru
peak heating. Temps should rebound back to normal in the east,
but should also end up hot again over northeast GA.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
As of 3:10 am Thursday: The short-term fcst picks up at 00z on
Saturday with the remnants of TC Debby already well north of our
area and drier Canadian high pressure spreading into the region
from the NW. There could be some lingering hydro/flood threats
over our eastern zones on Saturday, but they should be limited.
Otherwise, Saturday should be mostly dry with just a slight chance
for some diurnal convection over our southern zones as a weak, low-
level convergence zone is expected to set up just to our south and
southeast. Temperatures should be slightly cooler than Fri, with
highs near climatology across most of our CWA and values a few
degrees above climo over our SW zones.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 2:45 am Thursday: The extended forecast picks up at 12z on
Sunday with very broad upper trofing centered well to our north
and broad upper ridging over the Western CONUS. At the surface,
Canadian high pressure will be centered to our NW as the period
begins. By early next week, the high will begin to weaken but
remains centered to our NW. At the same time, weak SLY return
flow begins to spread further north into our area. With the high
lingering to our NW, this will set up a broad area of weak low-
level convergence over our area thru the middle of next week.
As a result, the chances for diurnally-driven showers and thun-
derstorms is increasing for the first half of next week. From
Monday onward, I have slight to solid chance PoPs each day/
evening with marginally higher values over the mtns each day.
Otherwise, temperatures are expected to be near-normal thru the
period with our SW zones likely being slightly above normal and
our NE zones being slightly below normal.
&&
.AVIATION /08Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: And here we go! The leading edge of the
precip associated with Debby was moving west and should reach KCLT
by 07Z at the latest, bringing an initial MVFR ceiling restriction,
then it all goes downhill E-to-W from there. KCLT will bear the
brunt of the restrictions, with IFR cigs arriving around the start
of operations and the lower vis restrictions by 12Z. Wind should
also pick up from the NE by then. There could be occasional LLWS at
KCLT, but the forecast wind difference between the sfc and 2k ft
doesn't technically meet the criteria, so it was left out of the
TAF. There will no doubt be some MVFR or even VFR holes, but for
the most part IFR is expected to prevail there, and also at KHKY.
The other terminals will be more on the edge of the precip shield
later today, so the confidence is lower, particularly over the
Upstate. Will use a TEMPO for the mid/late afternoon when it
would be most likely that some showers would wrap around from
the north. Otherwise, MVFR should prevail, and the gusts should
be frequent from the N. Farther to the W, KAND might end up VFR
through the whole day. What's left of the storm should pull out
to the N/NE this evening and take the precip with it, but a low
cloud restriction is likely to persist well into the overnight
hours early Friday morning.
Outlook: IFR and LLWS potential will not end in some areas until
early Friday morning. Diurnal convection and associated restrictions
may return for the weekend into early next week.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...Flood Watch through Friday morning for NCZ035>037-056-057-
069>072-082.
SC...Flood Watch through Friday morning for SCZ009-014.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JPT
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...JPT
LONG TERM...JPT
AVIATION...PMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 655 PM EDT Wed Aug 7 2024 NCZ033-048>050-053-064-065-068-501>510-SCZ008-012-013-102-103- 105>109-082300- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Transylvania-Henderson- Cleveland-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains- Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell- Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk- Cherokee-Laurens-Union SC-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-Southern Greenville- Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 655 PM EDT Wed Aug 7 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Tropical Cyclone Debby is expected to impact the western Carolinas Thursday and Friday. The main impacts would be an increased risk for heavy rain, flooding, and gusty winds Thursday and Friday, with the greatest risk along and east of I-77. However, the track this storm takes as it moves over the Carolinas will determine what locations have the higher threat for flooding rain. The combination of persistent gusty winds and wet soils from heavy rainfall will lead to scattered trees and powerlines down. Check hurricanes.gov for the latest updates on this system. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ051-052-058-059-062-063-SCZ010-011-019- 101-104-082300- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Swain-Haywood-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Anderson-Abbeville-Greenwood- Oconee Mountains-Greater Oconee- 655 PM EDT Wed Aug 7 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ035>037-056-057-069>072-082-SCZ009-014-082300- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg- Cabarrus-Union NC-York-Chester- 655 PM EDT Wed Aug 7 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
341 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
NCZ057-071-072-082-080845-
Rowan NC-Union NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
341 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
...STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM TROPICAL STORM DEBBY WILL IMPACT
CABARRUS...SOUTHEASTERN MECKLENBURG... SOUTHEASTERN ROWAN AND UNION
COUNTIES THROUGH 445 AM EDT...
At 339 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong rain band along a
line extending from 11 miles southeast of Salisbury to 10 miles
south of Downtown Concord to 7 miles north of Lancaster. Movement
was west at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Downtown Concord, Monroe, Kannapolis, Salisbury, South Charlotte,
East Charlotte, West Concord, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Indian Trail.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 8030 3519 8051 3516 8044 3518 8037
3517 8036 3519 8028 3481 8032 3482 8080
3494 8078 3504 8088 3529 8075 3572 8039
3572 8034 3568 8033 3558 8021 3551 8018
TIME...MOT...LOC 0739Z 111DEG 14KT 3559 8029 3526 8058 3483 8080
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
446 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
NCZ036-057-070>072-SCZ009-014-080945-
Rowan NC-Gaston NC-Iredell NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-York SC-
Chester SC-
446 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
...STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM TROPICAL STORM DEBBY WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN CABARRUS...SOUTHEASTERN IREDELL...
MECKLENBURG...SOUTHWESTERN ROWAN...EASTERN GASTON...CHESTER AND YORK
COUNTIES THROUGH 545 AM EDT...
At 444 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong rain band along a
line extending from 4 miles northwest of Kannapolis to 10 miles
southwest of Uptown Charlotte to 5 miles southeast of Chester.
Movement was west at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gastonia, Rock Hill, Uptown Charlotte, Huntersville, Kannapolis,
Downtown Concord, York, Chester, Central Charlotte, and Northeast
Charlotte.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3511 8081 3500 8084 3508 8091 3501 8091
3492 8086 3454 8096 3457 8139 3519 8124
3541 8104 3540 8096 3546 8094 3550 8096
3569 8078 3556 8041
TIME...MOT...LOC 0844Z 102DEG 9KT 3555 8065 3516 8100 3466 8113
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ARKThe Greer radar (KGSP), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:59 UTC.
7 flash flood, 5 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple sources reported flash flooding developed across the Charlotte area after 4.5 to 6 inches of rain fell across Mecklenburg County in association with the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debby. A gauge on McMullen Creek exceeded flood stage, indicating inundation of Addison Dr with as much as a foot of water, while Lincrest Place was also flooded. A gauge on Mallard Creek in the northeast part of the city also exceeded flood stage, indicating inundation of Pavillion Blvd, N Tryon St, and E Mallard Creek Church Rd as well as portions of the Mallard Creek Greenway. Stewart Creek overflowed its banks near Uptown and sent water flowing over W Morehead St. Paw Creek flooded near Charlotte Douglas Airport, with water surrounding several manufactured homes off Wilkinson Blvd. Water from tributaries of McAlpine Creek inundated a couple of roads in South Charlotte. Additionally, some significant urban flooding developed, with Highway 74 closed and a vehicle stalled in flood water between Sam Wilson Rd and Old Dowd Rd. Also, water covered Hawthorne Lane under a railway bridge, resulting in stranding of a vehicle.
Stream gauges on the Rocky River above Irish Buffalo Creek and on Coddle Creek indicated flash flooding developed along tributaries of the river, including Irish Buffalo Creek and Dutch Buffalo Creek after 4.5 to 6 inches of rain fell across Cabarrus County in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Multiple roads were inundated, including Stallings Rd, Poplar Tent Rd, Bowman-Berrier Rd, Hopewell Church Rd, Mount Pleasant Rd, and Highway 200. In addition, Trinity Church Rd was closed after Afton Run overflowed its banks and Wolf Meadow Branch overflowed onto the Bridge on Stough Rd.
Public reported (via Social Media) Reeds Creek overflowed its banks in the Mooresville area after 4.5 to 5.5 inches of rain fell in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Water was flowing across at least one road while sections of a golf course were also flooded.
Media reported isolated flash flooding developed in parts of Union County after 4.5 to 5.5 inches of rain fell in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Bates Branch overflowed its banks west of Monroe and inundated Pleasant Grove Rd. Additionally, a stream gauge on Bearskin Creek in Monroe briefly exceeded flood stage, indicating inundation of a portion of Stafford St. Parks and Greenways along the stream were also inundated.
Emergency management reported Town Creek overflowed its banks, with water inundating both lanes of Innes St. The crawlspace of several manufactured home was also inundated off of Bringle Ferry Rd. Additionally, a stream gauge on Grants Creek on Rowan Mill Rd exceeded its established flood stage.
Amateur Radio operator reported flash flooding developed along a section of the Upper Little River after X to Y inches of rain fell in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, with much of that falling within a 2 to 4 hour window during the afternoon of the 8th. Water from the river inundated the crawl space of one home in the Oak Hill community.
County comms and a stream gage indicated flash flooding developed across the Hunting Creek basin after 3.5 to 4.5 inches of rain fell across the area in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, with much of that falling within a 2-4 hour window during the afternoon if the 8th. Portions of Enola Rd, Mountain Home Church Rd, and Coal Chute Rd were inundated by water from Hunting Creek or one of its tributaries.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2024
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1214891, 1214892, 1214893, 1214894, 1214895, 1213600, 1214884, 1214886, 1214207, 1213604, 1214887, 1214885.