MORNING NEWSBREAK | Tropical Storm Debby made its second U.S. landfall early Thursday morning, this time striking near Bulls Bay about 20 miles northeast of Charleston. It brought maximum sustained wind speeds of 50 miles per hour as it crawled inland.
Debby’s northward trek means that today is likely the Lowcountry’s last day enduring some stormy weather. Local meteorologists said there will be pockets of showers and a few thunderstorms likely to rotate through the area, lingering throughout the afternoon into the evening. Substantial rain amounts, however, are pretty much over.
- GREAT STORY: Meet the Storm Chaser, Jim Cantore. When the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore breezes into town, you know that your area is in for something. We thought it would be interesting to talk with him about weather — and it was, as the City Paper’s Skyler Baldwin learned.
Since crashing into Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, Debby has dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. At least five people have died. The deluges have engorged rivers, flooded roadways and trapped people in cars, homes and boats. And now potentially dangerous heat expected across the region in the coming days threatens to complicate the recovery process.
Debby has whipped up at least 10 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service as of early Thursday. That includes four tornadoes in Florida, four in South Carolina and two in North Carolina. One tornado that touched down on Edisto Island spun for about 10 minutes with estimated peak wind speeds at 97 miles per hour, officials said.
At least 63 homes in the Palmetto State were damaged by Debby’s wind and rain, according to the S.C. Emergency Management Division.
In other recent headlines:
CP OPINION: Debby was a resilience wakeup call for Charleston. “Here are the number of ways that Interstate 526 helped the Charleston area avert flooding from the unprecedented dousing it got from Tropical Storm Debby: Zero. Nada. Zilch. Nil. And here are the number of ways that spending $2.3 billion to extend Interstate 526 will put us in a better position to deal with the next unprecedented flooding event from a future storm to be named (get ready for it): Zero. Nada. Zilch. Nil. Goose eggs.”
Saunders qualifies for shot put final in Paris Olympics. Raven Saunders, 28 of Charleston, qualified for the Olympic final on Thursday. After scratching on their first throw, they recorded 17.93 meters on their second and 18.62 on their final to ensure their spot in the final.
Flooding a ‘constant existential fear’ in Charleston. The Holy City is weary from a parade of floods that go back a decade. The city is taking action to confront the risk, but Debby offered more proof of how tall a task it faces.
Charleston announces revised garbage collection schedule. Officials with the City of Charleston say they have an important update to the trash collection schedule as residents begin to clean up from Tropical Storm Debby.
Sinkhole opens on Romney Street in downtown Charleston. A large sinkhole opened in downtown Charleston Wednesday night, according to first responders.
Contemporary home on Charleston Battery lists for $13.5M. A rare contemporary home on Charleston’s Battery with direct waterfront views has listed for $13.5 million.
Charleston-area commissary kitchen owners sued for more than $2M. The owners of a commissary kitchen that housed 30 small businesses are the subject of a new lawsuit alleging they failed to pay nearly $100,000 in rent.
CARTA’s dispute with Charleston Exchange Club heading to court. The ongoing battle to turn part of the Exchange Park Fairgrounds parking lot into a transportation hub is heading to court.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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