CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Tropical Storm Debby was at sea Wednesday and was expected to make landfall in the Carolinas for a second time soon after.

The storm raged across the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, August 7, after making landfall in Florida as a hurricane earlier this week. The storm’s outer edges brought some rain to North and South Carolina on Wednesday.

You can watch our live storm radar in the video player above.

Meteorologists expect Tropical Storm Debby to make a second landfall near Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning. Historic rainfall and subsequent flooding were possibly forecast in the Carolinas for Thursday and Friday.

South Carolina was expected to see significantly higher rainfall amounts than North Carolina, despite states of emergency being declared in both states. The National Hurricane Center predicts that rain from Tropical Storm Debby will be heaviest along the South Carolina coast between Charleston and Savannah, Georgia. Areas between Charleston and Savannah could see 20 to 30 inches of rain through Saturday, August 10.

On Tuesday, August 6, a Storm Surge Warning was issued for coastal regions of southern South Carolina between Savannah and Charleston. A Storm Surge Warning was issued for the South Carolina coast from Charleston to Wilmington, North Carolina.

Communities west and north of the South Carolina coast are also expected to see significant rainfall in the coming days. Communities just outside of Charleston could see 16 to 20 inches of rain, while communities in the middle of the state could see between 8 and 16 inches.

“Parts of southeast Georgia, the coastal plain of South Carolina, and southeastern North Carolina are expected to receive rainfall between 10 and 20 inches, with local rainfall as high as 30 inches, through Saturday morning. These potentially historic rainfall totals are likely to result in catastrophic flooding,” the National Hurricane Center said.

—> Final preparations underway as Tropical Storm Debby approaches the Charlotte area

Tips for emergency preparedness

North Carolina residents are urged to take the following steps, the governor’s office said Monday:

• Get emergency information in multiple ways, including alerts and alarms. Make sure emergency alerts are turned on on your phone and download a weather app.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you had to evacuate. Make a plan to stay with family, friends, or in a hotel. Public shelters should be a last resort.
• Stock up on emergency supplies or replenish your emergency kit. For information on putting together an emergency kit, visit ReadyNC.gov.
• Never drive through flooded roads or around road barricades.
• Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
• Make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts, especially given the possibility of severe storms during the overnight hours.
• Check if your municipality offers emergency alert services for its residents.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.

Here you can find our current weather forecasts online. Follow our latest reports on the WBTV weather app.

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