Debby Heads To MD: Heavy Rain, Strong Wind Could Spark Flooding

MARYLAND — Tropical Storm Debby is expected to reach Maryland by Friday morning after it weakens to a tropical depression. Marylanders should still anticipate heavy rainfall, flash flooding and strong wind.

Sandbagging has begun in waterfront cities like Annapolis and Baltimore as residents brace for flooding, and the governor declared a state of preparedness to help public agencies gear up for a possible disaster response.

Debby is heading up the East Coast as it has made landfall for a second time. The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina.
The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding through the Mid-Atlantic up to the Northeast by the weekend. Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

As Debby drenches South Carolina, heavy rainfall from the tropical storm is also expected to cause flooding across portions of the Mid-Atlantic states on Friday.

At least seven people have died due to the storm, five of them in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport, whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank. And the most recent victim died in a tornado spawned by the storm in North Carolina Thursday.

Debby was located over South Carolina Thursday morning with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The system is forecast to be downgraded to a tropical depression Thursday afternoon or evening. It would then merge with a front and become extratropical on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Maryland Debby Forecast

The National Hurricane Center called for 2 to 4 inches of rain in central Maryland. Western Maryland could see up to 6 inches. One to 2 inches are in store for southern Maryland and eastern Shore towns along the Chesapeake Bay. The Salisbury area may get less than an inch.

The rain should clear before Saturday morning.

Tides 2.5 to 3 feet above normal are forecasted in Annapolis, where high tides are at 9:03 p.m. Thursday and 8:48 a.m. Friday.

Anne Arundel County will be under a coastal flood advisory from 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Up to 6 inches of flooding are possible in low-lying areas during this period.

A more serious coastal flood watch will then take over, lasting from early Friday morning through late Friday night and bringing 1 to 2 feet of flooding.

“If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed,” the National Weather Service said. “Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.”

There were no flood warnings for other coastal areas like Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Baltimore County’s Bowleys Quarters as of 10 a.m. Thursday.

Western Maryland has a 40% chance of flash flooding, giving it a moderate risk. Central Maryland has a slight risk of flash flooding with a 15% chance. The Eastern Shore’s 5% chance of flash floods gives it a marginal risk.

The winds will lose some energy before reaching Maryland. Still, gusts up to 36 mph are possible at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Throughout the state, the chance of sustained 39 mph winds is 5 to 10%.

Hurricanes have sustained winds over 74 mph. Tropical storms have winds of 39 to 74 mph. Tropical depression winds are 38 mph or lower.

“The combination of tropical-storm-force winds will have trees bobbing and tipping in the saturated soil, and a number may topple over that can lead to property damage and power outages,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said in a forecast discussion.

The winds could disrupt traffic on Maryland bridges. House trailers and empty box trailers would be prohibited from crossing if winds are sustained at 40 to 49 mph for 10 minutes or gusts persistently exceed 40 mph over 15 minutes. Drivers can follow the Maryland Transportation Authority on X, formerly known as Twitter, to see live bridge traffic updates.

Storm Preparations

Gov. Wes Moore issued the preparedness order Tuesday afternoon.

“The safety of Marylanders is our top priority,” Moore said in a statement. “By declaring a State of Preparedness, I am directing the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate the comprehensive preparation of State government ahead of potential impacts from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.”

Moore continued, “Residents and visitors should monitor local weather forecasts, remain vigilant, and be prepared to follow safety instructions from local emergency officials.”

In the order, state officials encouraged Marylanders to prepare for Debby’s possible arrival by doing the following:

• Encourage your family and friends to finish preparedness activities now. Check on your neighbors — especially older adults or those who may need additional assistance — to make sure they have what they need. Have a plan to remain in contact during and after the storm.
• You may have to evacuate quickly due to a storm if you live in an evacuation zone. To learn if you live or work in an evacuation zone in Maryland, please visit this Know Your Zone page.
• Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay.
• Follow instructions from local emergency managers, who work closely with state and local agencies and partners. They will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.
• Keep your cell phone, tablet and laptop charged when you know a storm is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.
• Have enough supplies for your household, including medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies in your evacuation bag or car trunk. You may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks after a hurricane.

To receive alerts, tips and resources related to threats and hazards affecting Maryland, text MdReady to 211-631 or text MdListo for Spanish.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.