Tropical Storm Debby to bring life-threatening floods to Myrtle Beach. Possible tornadoes

Rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby could start on Monday and lead to dangerous flooding later in the week, according to Steven Pfaff, the meteorologist-in-charge from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina.

As of 5:45 p.m. Monday, the Myrtle Beach area is under watch for storm surge, flooding and a tropical storm. There’s risks of isolated tornadoes Monday night.

The Myrtle Beach area has gotten some rain on Monday, which is indirectly associated with Debby, Pfaff said. The rain is the result of an unstable weather pattern. Rain from the storm is expected to hit the area Tuesday night.

As of 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, Debby was located in Florida near the Georgia border, Pfaff said. The storm should move through southeast Georgia Monday night and end up in the Atlantic Ocean near the South Carolina coast, according to the Aug. 5 evening weather briefing.

Debby could make landfall a second time on Thursday, although it’s unclear where.

The storm is anticipated to move slowly, which would cause a heavy amount of rainfall on the region, according to the weather briefing. Horry County is expected to get 12 to 16 inches, with the worst of the rain coming on Wednesday. The rain will likely bring dangerous flooding, including flash floods, urban floods and potential storm surges.

All of Horry County currently has the potential for extreme flooding. There may be flooding on roads and in low-lying structures. Officials are warning people against driving in flooded areas, as it can be deadly.

Storm surges are expected on Wednesday through Friday around the time of high tides and could flood up to 4 feet above ground level.

The rivers will provide some “cushion,” but with the amount of rain expected, they will not be able to stop floods, Pfaff said. Those living in flood-prone areas could be cut off for a period of time if water levels rise.

Debby could bring tropical storm force winds beginning around Wednesday. There’s also the threat of isolated tornadoes, rip currents and strong surf.

This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 10:06 AM.

Emalyn Muzzy

The Sun News

Emalyn Muzzy is the retail and leisure reporter for The Sun News. She started as a breaking news reporter in Myrtle Beach before switching to the business beat. She graduated from the University of Minnesota is 2022 with a degree in journalism and Spanish.