Multiple tornadoes touch down across North Carolina as Tropical Storm Debby pushes through the state

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Last updated: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 6:32PM GMT
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Debby spawned five confirmed tornadoes so far Thursday -- and that doesn't include one twister Wednesday.

They were:
Wednesday

  • Harrells, NC (Sampson County) 2:03 p.m.

Thursday

  • Lucama (Wilson County) 2:17 a.m.
  • Spring Hope (Franklin County) 8:13 a.m.
  • Kittrell (Franklin County into Vance County) 3:45 p.m.
  • Bunn to Louisburg (Franklin County) 4 p.m.
  • Epsom (Franklin County to southern Vance County) 6:56 p.m.

Debby, which entered North Carolina as a tropical storm but has since weakened into a tropical depression, continued to slam central North Carolina.

Tornadoes caused some extensive damage to multiple buildings and killed a man.

MORE | See all active weather alerts here

A tornado watch remains in effect until 7 a.m. Friday. A flood watch is also in effect through Friday evening.

As of 10:45 p.m., nearly 28,000 people across the state remained without power.

In the 11 p.m., update, Debby remained a tropical depression with sustained winds of 30 mph and was heading full steam into Virginia moving north-northeast at 26 mph. Tornado threats remain overnight from eastern North Carolina into Virginia and Maryland. On Friday, the tornado threats will mostly be for parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and southeast New York.

As for the ABC11 viewing area, skies should be clearing by Friday afternoon and evening with highs in the mid-80s. Saturday brings a mix of clouds and sun with temperatures around 90 and a chance for storms.

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Aug 08, 2024, 9:10 PM GMT

City gives Fayetteville residents comprehensive update on Debby's effects

The City of Fayetteville just gave a comprehensive update on its Debby response.

Fayetteville expects continued rain overnight. Residents can expect continued flooding in some areas across the city.

Residents are urged to pay attention to alerts and to seek alternate shelter in the event of flooding in their area.

City Hall will remain open for regular business on Friday. Residents are encouraged to call ahead to determine whether services can be completed online and avoid travel until conditions return to normal. Residents are also advised to call (910) 600-7299 for non-emergency inquiries and transportation assistance to shelters.

In response to the impending storm, the City of Fayetteville has been working closely with Cumberland County which opened several emergency shelters. The shelters include:

  • Westover Recreation Center (pet friendly)Southview High School (pet friendly)Pine Forest High SchoolSmith Recreation Center- Will close at 9 a.m. on Friday

Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) will provide transportation to the shelters FAST Services will open and operate on normal schedule Friday.

The following routes are still on detour as of Aug. 8: Route 4, 10, 18, 19. All other routes have returned to normal service.

The Hay and Franklin Streets Parking Decks will be opened for city vehicle storage, with gates remaining open. Fees will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday.

On-street parking enforcement will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday.

The Cape Fear River water levels are expected to peak at 53.6 feet on Saturday morning. Swift water rescue teams are strategically positioned across the county to assist with water rescue calls. The public safety teams are ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise. NCDOT and the City have strategically placed barriers and sandbags in areas that have historically been affected by floodwaters.

Fayetteville's Stormwater and Streets Divisions are closely monitoring road conditions across the City.

The following streets are closed because of actual or possible flooding:

  • Freeport Rd.Siple Ave.LA Dunham RdRayconda Rd.Ray Ave and Mason St.S. Cool Springs StVanstory St.Blue St.Orange St.Sections of Murchison Rd.Tangora Ln. & Aftonshire Dr.Bombay Dr.Swann St.Lakewood Dr.High Water Signs have been placed on Maiden Ln. The road is being monitored.

Barriers will be removed when it is determined that the roadway is no longer at risk of flooding. Drivers should avoid travel until the storm has safely passed. Please exercise caution, especially in areas known to flood. A flooded street might appear harmless but there is no way to tell how deep the water is. Turn around, don't drown.

Drivers should be aware that there are still roads that have been affected by downed powerlines and fallen trees. Please report downed powerlines, fallen trees, and other safety issues, to the non-emergency phone number at (910) 600-7299. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Recycling will be collected on Friday. This will include Thursday and Friday routes. If there are any delays, Friday's recycling will be collected on Saturday. The Solid Waste Department will continue to collect household waste and large limbs on Thursday and Friday. Yard waste will not be collected until next week.

Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation, (FCPR) pools will remain closed through Friday and will reopen on Saturday under normal hours of operation.

For the latest information, follow the City on all social media platforms, visit the official website at FayettevilleNC.gov or call 910-433-1FAY (1329).

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Aug 08, 2024, 8:49 PM GMT

Map shows Debby's effect on NC roadways

As expected, Tropical Storm Debby has caused various road closures across the state.

Most of those are a matter of roadway flooding, and the NCDOT said it will wait for the water to recede, and then inspect the roads, most of which will be simply reopened without any needs of repairs.

Some roads were closed because of debris or fallen trees or powerlines. In a few sports, roadways collapsed into sinkholes.

On the map below, green signifies low-impact areas.

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Aug 08, 2024, 8:38 PM GMT

Biden briefed on Debby's effects on NC, East Coast

President Joe Biden has received an update on Tropical Storm Debby's effects on the East Coast, White House spokesperson Jeremy Edwards said.

Biden was also briefed on the devastation in North Carolina and he "expresses his condolences for the affected communities, including one person who tragically lost their life," Edwards added.

"The President continues to urge East Coast residents and anyone in the path of this storm to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials," Edwards said.

Administration officials remain in close communication with state and local officials in the region, Edwards said.

Earlier this week, Biden approved an emergency declaration request from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

The president continues to urge East Coast residents and anyone in the path of this storm to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, Edwards added.

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Aug 08, 2024, 8:43 PM GMT

Tornado warning for Franklin, Granville, Vance counties

A tornado warning is in effect for Franklin, Granville and Vance counties until 5 p.m.

These latest spout of warnings included those counties as well as Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties. They began after meteorologists spotted radar indicated rotation near US 64 near Bunn.

Minutes before the start of the warnings, a confirmed tornado caused damage in Vance County.

Debris and damage were confirmed along the 1400 block of Rocky Ford Road by a Franklin County Emergency Management team member.

Powerlines and tree limbs were downed, the team member told ABC11. There was also outbuilding damage.

ABC11 breaking news crews are working to gather more information.