Article first published: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, 7 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 1

System name: Imelda

The National Hurricane Center’s 7 a.m. Tuesday update reported that Imelda found new strength and had evolved from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph. Category 1 Hurricane Imelda is in the Atlantic Ocean, 180 miles north of Great Abaco Island and 755 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, is moving northeast at 7 mph.

“… the center of the system should move away from the Bahamas today and quickly be approaching Bermuda late on Wednesday”, analysts wrote about the hurricane. They also said “Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.”

Yesterday (Monday)

Imelda shifted course away from The Bahamas and targeted Atlantic Ocean.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Hurricane Watch for Bermuda

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

A Hurricane Warning could be required later today for Bermuda.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Wednesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by Wednesday afternoon.

Rainfall. Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with local maxima of 4 inches are expected through tonight across 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.

Storm surge. 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 Hurricane Imelda and Hurricane Humberto are affecting the Bahamas and are currently spreading to much of the U.S. east coast. 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