Northeast braces for remnants of Debby

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debby is drenching parts of the Eastern Seaboard as it makes its way north, raising concerns of further flash flooding in our region by the weekend.

What started as a category one hurricane when it made landfall in Florida has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. Communities in Georgia and the Carolinas are dealing with heavy rain and flooding.

While the exact storm track remains unclear, forecasters in our region say there is a moderate risk for flooding in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire starting Friday through Saturday night.

Vermont Emergency Management officials say now is the time to prepare, by removing debris from culverts and drainage areas and signing up for Vermont Alert.

A flood watch is now in effect for southern New York as they brace for heavy rains with up to three inches an hour.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she has activated the states emergency operations center and plans to leave it open all week. “This is our new normal because of climate change. And as the leader of the state, it’s all about being prepared in advance with the early warning systems we have,” she said.