Major flooding possible in SC as Tropical Storm Debby is forecast to drench Columbia area

Noah Feit
·3 min read

Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in the U.S. on Monday, and will move north toward the Columbia area of South Carolina, where a flood watch has been issued, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm was expected to affect the Midlands area Monday night and continue through Tuesday and Wednesday, National Weather Service meteorologists said in a morning briefing. But major flooding is possible in the Columbia area beginning Tuesday as Debby is expected to bring excessive rainfall, with up to 8 inches of rain possible, according to the briefing.

Localized amounts in other areas of the Midlands could be higher, especially along the Interstate 20 corridor, and in the area south of the highway where extreme flooding is possible, the National Weather Service said.

Even after the storm moves out of the Midlands, heavy rainfall is expected to continue from Wednesday night through Friday, the National Weather Service said.

A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.
A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.

The flood watch was in effect at noon Monday and is currently listed to run through Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

The watch covers much of the Midlands, including Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Sumter, Clarendon, Calhoun, Lee and Orangeburg counties, the National Weather Service said.

Excessive runoff could result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, according to the National Weather Service. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible.

By Friday night, it’s possible that more than 10 inches of rain will have been recorded in some parts of the Midlands, according to the briefing. The National Weather Service said that much rain is expected to lead to widespread flooding as the ground already is saturated from rain that fell over the weekend.

A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.
A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.

Debby increased strength Sunday and grew from a tropical storm into a hurricane overnight, according to the briefing.

Debby was expected to weaken as it moved over land Monday and through the night, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.
A flood watch was issued in the Midlands as Hurricane Debby is forecast to bring excessive rain as it approaches from the south.

As of Sunday night, Debby’s winds are not expected to be a major threat to the Columbia area, the National Weather Service said. Wind gusts as fast as 20-30 mph are possible on Tuesday as Debby approaches from the south.

The possibility of tornadoes cannot be ruled out, as a limited threat remains, according to the National Weather Service. The threat of tornadoes is forecast for Monday night, the National Hurricane Center said.

Powerful winds and tornadoes could cause considerable damage to trees and branches, in addition to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. Vehicles would also be under siege in the case of a tornado.

Damage to trees and branches creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Sunday.

“Team South Carolina is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and has begun preparing for its potential impact on our state,” McMaster said in a news release. “With a potentially significant rainfall event forecast for the next few days, it is critical that residents in potentially affected areas start making preparations and plans today — in case it is necessary to take quick action.”

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