The next name on the Atlantic hurricane season list is “Debby” and we are monitoring a weak and disorganized tropical disturbance located just east of Florida. This system will continue to travel to the north-northwest and is likely to bring direct impacts to the Carolinas onto the Mid-Atlantic throughout the weekend.
It is typical for this time of the year to have tropical disturbances foreman either over the Gulf of Mexico or over the far western Atlantic adjacent to the Carolinas or Florida. The current weather pattern closes in a weak low-pressure system within the attached cold front draped over the southeast onto the Deep South. Of course, this cold front is very weak and will continue to lose punch becoming stationary. The stationary front will increase the rain and thunderstorm activity across the southeast including Florida. For the Carolinas, we will see impacts from the moisture coming in courtesy of the tropical disturbance and the low pressure moving toward us from the west.
Will the tropical disturbance grow?
The tropical disturbance has a low chance of developing, but conditions will not turn favorable as it inches closer to the Carolinas, so it is not likely that Debby would be born from this system. Regardless, the Carolinas should monitor this system closely as it will still bring heavy rains and storms. Rainfall between 3 to 4 inches with some areas accumulating higher amounts.
It is the same low-pressure system that is going to pull the tropical disturbance located a few 100 miles east of Florida onto the Carolinas. These will be the impacts:
- Rough and high seas for the coast of South and North Carolina throughout the weekend, starting late Friday afternoon.
- Periods of heavy rains. Some areas could receive higher amounts, above 5 inches.
- These heavy rains could cause flash flooding, considering the areas that are dealing with severe drought, especially over the Pee Dee.