NORFOLK, Va — Tropical Storm Debby is centered about 80 miles SE of Charlotte, N.C. late Thursday morning.
The storm is expected to accelerate toward the north across central North Carolina Thursday night.
Debby is then expected to move faster toward the northeast across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday.
The tornado watch in our area was expanded and extended to Thursday until 8 p.m.
Watch most recent update: More bands of Tropical Storm Debby make their way into North Carolina
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast, and Debby is likely to become a tropical depression this afternoon or evening.
Debby should then merge with a front and become extratropical on Friday.
Watch: Flooding in Franklin from Debby
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles from the center.