Tropical Storm Imelda continued to build strength off the Southeast coast Monday, with forecasters warning it could soon reach hurricane intensity. The system is already generating treacherous surf and rip currents stretching from Florida through the Carolinas, prompting emergency preparations along the shoreline.
At the same time, Hurricane Humberto, currently a powerful Category 4 storm, is churning in the Atlantic and creating hazardous coastal conditions for Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported sustained winds of 140 mph, with the storm located roughly 400 miles from the island. A tropical storm watch remains in effect as officials brace for life-threatening surf and heavy rainfall.
Humberto, moving northwest at 14 mph, is forecast to shift east-northeast by late Tuesday or early Wednesday. While its intensity could fluctuate, meteorologists expect the hurricane to remain a major storm for several more days before gradually weakening.
Imelda, which first formed Sunday, was centered about 315 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and roughly 130 miles northwest of the central Bahamas. By Monday morning, it was moving north at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
The Bahamas, still vulnerable after recent storm seasons, is under a tropical storm warning. The nation’s Department of Meteorology cautioned residents to prepare for up to 12 inches of rain, localized flash flooding, and property damage in low-lying areas. Heavy downpours and gusty winds left Nassau’s popular Potter’s Cay Dock deserted Sunday, while several airports suspended flights until conditions improve.
U.S. leaders are also preparing for potential impacts. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said his state was staging search and rescue crews and urged residents to remain vigilant. “This storm is deadly serious. Not just serious, deadly serious,” McMaster stressed.
In North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency preemptively, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding Imelda’s track and intensity.
Despite a relatively quiet season so far, meteorologists warn that both Imelda and Humberto highlight how quickly conditions can escalate along the Atlantic. For now, the U.S. mainland has avoided a direct hurricane strike, but officials emphasize that could change at any time.
