PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP) — Power outages and flooding are already taking place across the Triad as Tropical Storm Debby drifts toward central North Carolina.
As of 5 a.m. on Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Debby is creeping inland over South Carolina — bringing with it major flood threats to both the Carolinas and western Virginia, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The center of Debby is forecast to cross the Piedmont around midnight. We’ll start to see more breaks from showers earlier in the evening, and winds are going to diminish nicely overnight. Lows will be in the lower-70’s.
Flood Watches are in effect in Alamance, Alleghany, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin Counties.
Patrick Couty, Virginia is also under a flood watch and Davie County is also under a Wind Advisory.
The National Weather Service says 40-50 mph wind gusts are possible in central North Carolina within the heavier rain bands.
There is also an isolated tornado threat in eastern North Carolina that could spread into the Piedmont on Thursday afternoon.
Heavy rainfalls of 4-6 inches are expected across the Piedmont and isolated amounts of rainfall as high as 8-9 inches could be possible in the western part of the region.
There are tens of thousands of power outages being reported in the Triad as a result of the storms and roads have been closed due to flooding.
Rain starts to taper off midday Friday, but the Flood Watch stays in effect through Friday night. Though we’ll have clouds and showers around for the morning drive, we may have some sunshine later in the afternoon, kicking highs near 87°. More of the calmer weather is ahead for the weekend forecast.
Saturday and Sunday are going to be dry, with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. We’ll have highs in the upper-80s Saturday and lower-80s Sunday.
More stable weather is on the way next week. Highs will be steadily in the lower-80’s for the first half of the week. There is also a 50% chance of rain on Tuesday and a 40% chance on Wednesday.
