Article first published: Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, 4 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, 1 a.m. ET
System type: Tropical storm
System name: Imelda
At 1 a.m. Monday, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that the system, which was named Imelda, became a tropical storm with sustained winds of 45 mph after intensifying from a tropical depression. The 1 p.m. report was the first to confirm the system’s new name. Tropical Storm Imelda is in the Atlantic Ocean, 130 miles northwest of the Central Bahamas and 315 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral Florida. The system, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, is moving to the north at 8 mph.
“On Tuesday, Imelda is expected to turn sharply to the east-northeast”, meteorologists stated. “On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to move across the northwestern Bahamas today and then turn east-northeastward, moving away from the southeastern U.S. by the middle part of this week.” They also said “Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Imelda is forecast to become a hurricane by Tuesday.”
Today, an initially forecasted tropical depression has now transformed into a tropical storm and has been officially designated as Imelda. The system’s new name was first made public in the 1 p.m. advisory.
Watches and warnings currently in effect
• Tropical Storm Warning for:
• Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador
• Portions of the northwestern Bahamas, including Eleuthera, New Providence, the Abacos, Berry Islands, Andros island, and Grand Bahama Island
Meaning of the different watches and warnings
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area in this case within 12 hours.
Hazards affecting land
Wind. Tropical storm conditions are occuring in the central and northwestern Bahamas and should continue through today.
Rainfall. Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to produce additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches across eastern Cuba and 3 to 6 inches across the northwestern Bahamas through Tuesday. This rainfall will likely produce flash and urban flooding. Mudslides are also possible in areas of higher terrain across eastern Cuba. Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with local maxima of 4 inches are expected through Tuesday across northeast Florida,
Coastal South Carolina, and coastal sections of southeast North Carolina. This rainfall could result in isolated flash and urban flooding. As Imelda passes near Bermuda, 2 to 4 inches — 50 to 100 mm — of rainfall is expected from Wednesday into Thursday. For a complete forecast of rainfall and flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Imelda, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero
Storm surge. A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the northwestern Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves.
Minor coastal flooding is possible in areas of onshore winds over the Southeastern U.S. coastline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the surge occurs over the next several high tide cycles…
Volusia/Brevard County Line, Florida to the South Santee River, South Carolina…1 to 2 ft
Surf. Swells generated by Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto are affecting the Bahamas and will spread to much of the east coast of the U.S. early this week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ripCurrents
Source: National Hurricane Center