Tropical Storm Debby strengthened over the Atlantic Ocean southeast of South Carolina on Wednesday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Debby was located at latitude 32.4°N and longitude 79.1°W which put the center about 55 miles (90 km) east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.  Debby was moving toward the northeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Savannah River Georgia to Surf City, North Carolina.  The Tropical Storm Warning included Charleston, South Carolina.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Surf City to Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.

Tropical Storm Debby strengthened on Wednesday morning as it moved slowly over the Atlantic Ocean southeast of South Carolina.  A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found winds to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) in a band more than 100 miles (160 km) southeast of the center of Debby’s circulation.  The winds in the other parts of Tropical Storm Debby were not as strong.

More thunderstorms began to form in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Debby after more of Debby’s circulation moved over the Atlantic Ocean.  There were only a few thunderstorms near the center of Debby’s circulation because drier air was still present in the middle of that circulation.  However, more water vapor was evaporating into the air and the air was becoming moister.  Some of the thunderstorms in Debby started to generate more upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease slowly.

The distribution of wind speed around Tropical Storm Debby was very asymmetrical.  The strongest winds were occurring in the southeastern quadrant of Debby’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 185 miles (300 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Debby.  Winds to tropical storm force extended 140 miles (225 km) in the northeastern and southwestern quadrants of Debby’s circulation.  The winds in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Debby were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Debby will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Debby will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the southeastern U.S.  The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  The drier air in the middle part of Debby’s circulation will inhibit intensification.  Tropical Storm Debby could continue to intensify slowly during the next few hours.

Tropical Storm Debby will move around the western side of high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Debby slowly toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Debby will approach the coast of South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Tropical Storm Debby will continue to drop heavy rain on parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and eastern Georgia.   Since Debby will move slowly, persistent heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and eastern Georgia.

Southerly winds blowing around the eastern side of Tropical Storm Debby will continue to push water toward the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina.  Debby could cause a storm surge of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters).