What impact will Tropical Storm Debby have on NY? Here's the top concern

Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby are expected in New York state this week, which could cause potential flash floods and flooding.

Tropical Storm Debby impacts on New York

According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, Debby's remnants will fuel "very heavy rainfall" over central and eastern New York (including parts of the Finger Lakes region) Friday into Friday night. In the Rochester region and upstate New York, anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rainfall are predicted, with localized amounts possible in the 6-inch range.

This could cause some flash flooding or river flooding risks, forecasters said.

Flood watch issued in upstate NY

Parts of Ontario, Wayne and Cayuga counties are under a flood watch - as are other parts of the Empire State - from Friday morning through Saturday morning, due to the predicted excessive rainfall, according to the Weather Service. Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties are part of the same flood watch.

Debby is expected to combine with another weather system over the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, gaining speed as it pushes to the northeast, forecasters said. The storm could dump as much as 25 inches of rain in South Carolina and 15 inches in southeastern North Carolina through Friday.

What does the forecast mean for Rochester NY?

It will surely rain.

Weather Service Meteorologist Phillip Pandolfo said that the situation has been complicated to predict as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby move north and a cold front is predicted to move into the Rochester region and the two systems will likely interact over our area.

"The exact path of Debby is uncertain currently, but is tracking eastward," he said. As of Thursday morning, it appears that parts of Ontario and Wayne counties are the greatest a risk for heavy rainfall - between 2 to 4 inches or even more - on Friday.

Pandolfo also predicted a "sharp gradient" and "highly variable" amount of rain, meaning that one spot may see several inches while nearby, the amount of rainfall could be much less.

The Rochester metro area could see around an inch of rain in the same timeframe, Pandolfo said, noting that the storm tracking could change.

"Keep a close eye on Debby" as the storm approaches, he said. Additional weather alerts are likely as the storm moves north.

Debby blamed for at least six deaths

Debby moved along the central coast of South Carolina on Wednesday, drenching parts of Florida and Georgia in over a foot of rain and causing severe flooding through the Mid-Atlantic region.

Officials ordered evacuations due to widespread flash flooding as the system overtopped drainage systems and several Georgia dams. The storm has killed at least six people, including a boater in Gulfport, Florida, police confirmed Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Initially formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, the system made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane by Monday morning. Steinhatchee, a small town in Taylor County, faced maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, causing at least four deaths.

Debby made its way through northern Florida for hours until wind speeds slowed to 65 mph and officials downgraded it to a tropical storm status on Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. By Tuesday, it pushed off the coast of Georgia and moved along the central coast of South Carolina on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Major flooding threat shifts to the Northeast

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham is urging people in valleys and other flood-prone areas across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast to prepare for the possibility of flash floods as some areas may see as much as 4 to 8 inches of rain from the remnants of Debby.

"People should be prepared to seek higher ground and to know of an evacuation route and have a plan in place," warned Buckingham.

Along with the threat of flash flooding and beach hazards, AccuWeather expert meteorologists say families and businesses along Debby’s path should be prepared for potential power outages and major travel impacts.

AccuWeather predicts around 5,100 flight cancellations between Thursday and Saturday, according to a news release from the agency.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What impact will Tropical Storm Debby have on NY? Here's the top concern