Debby weakens but still threatens northeast US

STORY: Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday (August 8) after leaving at least seven people dead in its wake across the U.S. southeast this week.

The National Weather Service said Debby would continue to weaken through Sunday (August 11).

But it could still spawn several tornadoes as the storm spirals northward across Virginia and towards Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.

U.S. forecasters also expect Debby to trigger more flash flooding.

By the weekend, Debby could produce up to six inches of rain from Maryland into northern Vermont.

Storm Debby made a second landfall in South Carolina early on Thursday, three days after slamming into Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane, then traveling along northern Florida and Georgia to the Atlantic Coast.

The National Hurricane Center had warned the system could cause tornadoes in the coastal Carolina region and at least one person was killed on Thursday after a tornado tore through Wilson County, North Carolina, damaging homes and a school in the town of Lucama.

Debby dumped more rain across the region throughout the day, fuelling fears of flash flooding in areas already soaked by the slow-moving weather system.

As of Thursday night, more than 45,000 customers were without power in North Carolina and Virginia, according to Poweroutage.us.