Tropical Depression Debby turned deadly Thursday after hitting North Carolina as a tropical storm. The storm made a second landfall early Thursday morning near Bulls Bay, South Carolina before heading for North Carolina after first hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. Debby spawned tornadoes across the state prompting tornado warnings Thursday. The state's first reported death was in Wilson County after a home collapsed during a tornado. NBC affiliate WRAL captured video of tornado damage at Springfield Middle School. Parts of the roof were ripped off the building, and part of a wall and ceiling had collapsed.Damage was also reported in Wilson, Wade, Nash and Green counties.Another death was reported Thursday evening in Rockingham County, as a 78-year-old woman was killed after a tree fell on a home, according to the sheriff's office. WHAT TO KNOW Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression and will move out Friday.Debby turned deadly, with a death reported in Wilson County in North Carolina. The Haw River is projected to crest at 32.1 feet early Friday morning. Get the latest updates from FIMAN. Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina.Cooper also met with National Guard Members and Swift Water Rescue teams in Kinston Thursday morning.Debby is expected to move out Friday afternoon after bringing more rain. A high concern remains for river flooding as waters could crest. The Haw River was expected to crest at 32.1 feet early Friday morning as a voluntary evacuation was underway Thursday evening.Minor flooding is also expected at the Dan River in Wentworth, which could crest sometime Friday afternoon. Moderate flooding is also expected at Danville. There's also a threat of minor flooding at Yadkin River at Yadkin College, likely not until Saturday. A flood watch is in place through Friday night and includes a large portion of the Piedmont Triad. Flood warnings were issued earlier Thursday as Debby moved through the area. Winston-Salem Fire Department shared this video of flooding early Thursday morning in the area.North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said 374 National Guard members were activated, and swift water rescue teams were established to help with flood rescues and emergency efforts.At least 32 counties declared their own state of emergency. That's in addition to the state, which was already placed under one just days earlier in anticipation of the tropical storm. Download the Very Local app for updates on the storm The storm also brought gusty conditions Thursday afternoon causing trees to topple over across the state. Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro sustained significant damage as a result of fallen trees. The storm left more than 100,000 people in the dark as power crews continued Friday morning to restore power to thousands of homes. ►Get the latest WXII 12 weather alerts for your area here. Record Rain Greensboro’s 26-year-old daily rainfall record was broken Thursday as a result of Debby. The old record from 1998, which was 3.18 inches, was superseded by Thursday’s new record, which is already 3.46 inches as of the afternoon.Impacts across the Carolinas The National Weather Service’s office in Charleston said survey teams confirmed four Debby-related tornadoes and another was confirmed in Sampson County, North Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon. In Bluffton, South Carolina, alligators were spotted swimming through a Bluffton neighborhood after the heavy rain brought on by Tropical Storm Debby. You can see video of that here from our sister station, WJCL. Check out images from Tropical Storm Debby in North Carolina:
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
Tropical Depression Debby turned deadly Thursday after hitting North Carolina as a tropical storm.
The storm made a second landfall early Thursday morning near Bulls Bay, South Carolina before heading for North Carolina after first hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida Monday as a Category 1 hurricane.
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Debby spawned tornadoes across the state prompting tornado warnings Thursday. The state's first reported death was in Wilson County after a home collapsed during a tornado.
NBC affiliate WRAL captured video of tornado damage at Springfield Middle School. Parts of the roof were ripped off the building, and part of a wall and ceiling had collapsed.
Damage was also reported in Wilson, Wade, Nash and Green counties.
Another death was reported Thursday evening in Rockingham County, as a 78-year-old woman was killed after a tree fell on a home, according to the sheriff's office.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression and will move out Friday.
- Debby turned deadly, with a death reported in Wilson County in North Carolina.
- The Haw River is projected to crest at 32.1 feet early Friday morning. Get the latest updates from FIMAN.
- Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina.
- Cooper also met with National Guard Members and Swift Water Rescue teams in Kinston Thursday morning.
Debby is expected to move out Friday afternoon after bringing more rain. A high concern remains for river flooding as waters could crest. The Haw River was expected to crest at 32.1 feet early Friday morning as a voluntary evacuation was underway Thursday evening.
Minor flooding is also expected at the Dan River in Wentworth, which could crest sometime Friday afternoon. Moderate flooding is also expected at Danville. There's also a threat of minor flooding at Yadkin River at Yadkin College, likely not until Saturday.
A flood watch is in place through Friday night and includes a large portion of the Piedmont Triad. Flood warnings were issued earlier Thursday as Debby moved through the area. Winston-Salem Fire Department shared this video of flooding early Thursday morning in the area.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said 374 National Guard members were activated, and swift water rescue teams were established to help with flood rescues and emergency efforts.
At least 32 counties declared their own state of emergency. That's in addition to the state, which was already placed under one just days earlier in anticipation of the tropical storm.
Download the Very Local app for updates on the storm
The storm also brought gusty conditions Thursday afternoon causing trees to topple over across the state. Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro sustained significant damage as a result of fallen trees.
The storm left more than 100,000 people in the dark as power crews continued Friday morning to restore power to thousands of homes.
Tornado touches down in Sampson County, National Weather Service confirms
►Get the latest WXII 12 weather alerts for your area here.
Record Rain
Greensboro’s 26-year-old daily rainfall record was broken Thursday as a result of Debby. The old record from 1998, which was 3.18 inches, was superseded by Thursday’s new record, which is already 3.46 inches as of the afternoon.
Impacts across the Carolinas
The National Weather Service’s office in Charleston said survey teams confirmed four Debby-related tornadoes and another was confirmed in Sampson County, North Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon.
In Bluffton, South Carolina, alligators were spotted swimming through a Bluffton neighborhood after the heavy rain brought on by Tropical Storm Debby. You can see video of that here from our sister station, WJCL.
Check out images from Tropical Storm Debby in North Carolina:
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