Tropical Storm Debby threatens Southeast with potentially catastrophic flooding, record-setting rain

A man walks through storm surge on the flooded road into Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Monday morning, Aug. 5, 2024. Hurricane Debby made landfall early this morning. (AP Photo/Christopher O'Meara)

Updated at 4:15 p.m.

Tropical Storm Debby slammed Florida with catastrophic flooding and was blamed for at least four deaths, with Georgia and South Carolina next in line as the system rips across the southeastern United States.

Record-setting rain was forecast to cause flash flooding in coastal Georgia and South Carolina, and into North Carolina, with up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rainfall in some areas, the National Hurricane Center said. Debby made landfall early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane over the gulf coast of Florida.