Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rain to the southeastern United States, with three states receiving more than 300 liters of rain per square meter. This amount of rain caused flooding.
Debby hit the Gulf Coast on Monday, specifically the Steinhatchee Unit in the US state of Florida, as a Category 1 hurricane on the five-point, ascending Saffir-Simpson scale. At least six people died as a result of the element. The fatalities were reported in Florida and Georgia.
More than 300 liters of rain fell per square meter in three states
Debby brought with her heavy rainfall. In Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, more than 300 liters of rain fell per square meter. In these states, a state of emergency was declared. Such rainfall caused flooding. Streets turned into torrents, flooded homes and cars.
According to CNN, more than 200 liters per square meter fell at the Charleston airport in South Carolina. “It was definitely extreme rainfall. The flooding was something we haven't seen in many years,” said Neil Dixon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston authorities lifted a citywide curfew on Wednesday, saying the worst was behind them.
According to NWS forecasts, storm Debby is expected to make landfall again. Flood warnings are in effect for eastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina. The storm is expected to bring additional rainfall totals of 75 to 230 l/sq m.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper urges residents to prepare for heavy rains, flooding. “We have to be prepared for flooding,” North Carolina Gov.
Appeal for evacuation
Authorities in the North Carolina coastal town of Ocean Isle Beach on Wednesday asked residents and tourists to leave because of the threat of storm surge from Debby.
“Due to the high probability of life-threatening coastal and inland flooding over the next few days, visitors and residents should carefully consider evacuating as roads in the region may become impassable,” the city government said in a statement.
Strong hurricane
It is the fourth such strong hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean this year. Meteorologists compare it to Hurricane Haervey, which hit the city of Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico in Texas in 2017. Although the element weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland, the rainfall was so enormous that nearly 1,300 liters per square meter fell in Houston. This element was considered one of the “wettest” tropical cyclones in the history of the United States, causing over a hundred deaths and damages of $125 billion, mainly in the Houston metropolitan area – Reuters reminds.
Main image source: PAP/EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH