NORTH CAROLINA (WGHP) — Tropical Storm Debby is expected to become a hurricane Sunday, and North Carolina is preparing.

According to a Facebook post from North Carolina Emergency Management, the NC State Emergency Operations Center will move to an Enhanced Watch Status on Monday at 7 a.m. so they can begin coordinating response operations for Tropical Storm Debby.

Tropical Storm Debby (National Hurricane Center)

NCEM says an Enhanced Watch Status “is the second level of the three-tiered activation system that places focus on state personnel to support local government preparations ahead of an event.”

North Carolina Emergency Management’s Forecast

Tropical moisture will increase across NC as early as Monday, bringing the potential for showers and storms mainly during the afternoon and evening hours.

Isolated to scattered areas of flash flooding will be possible across portions of central and eastern NC Monday with the greatest concern across the southeast.

Since Saturday, the heaviest storm event rainfall totals have shifted farther inland across NC, with the highest rainfall totals up to 15” possible across the southeast with a widespread 4-10” forecast across portions of central and eastern NC. These totals and where the axis of heaviest rainfall sets up will become more refined in the coming days as confidence in Debby’s track becomes more certain.

With already saturated soils and additional heavy rainfall forecast, riverine flooding cannot be ruled out especially later this week and into next week.

North Carolina Emergency Management (Facebook)