Additional Coverage:
- Rip currents threaten the East Coast as hurricanes Imelda and Humberto churn out to sea (nbcnews.com)
Bermuda Braces for Hurricane Imelda as East Coast Faces Dangerous Rip Currents
Bermuda is currently under a hurricane warning as Hurricane Imelda, a Category 1 storm, continues its approach, expected to strengthen to a Category 2 before passing the island. The storm’s proximity also threatens the U.S. East Coast with dangerous rip current conditions.
As of the latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center, Imelda was located 395 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, moving east-northeast at 21 mph. It is forecast to pass less than 20 miles from the island, with the worst conditions anticipated from Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
Bermuda’s government projects the storm to pass directly over the island around 1 a.m. Thursday.
Residents should prepare for wind gusts near 100 mph, significant waves, and 2 to 4 inches of rainfall. Tropical storm-force winds are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon, escalating to hurricane-force winds by 9-10 p.m. and lasting up to six hours.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto, also a Category 1 storm, is heading out to sea after passing Bermuda Wednesday morning. The unusual proximity of these two hurricanes, fewer than 500 miles apart on Tuesday, marks a rare event not observed since the satellite era began in 1966, where historically, one of the two close storms would typically be a tropical storm.
While neither storm is expected to make landfall in the United States, their combined influence will be felt across a vast stretch of the East Coast. Dangerous rip currents and high surf are predicted along the entire coastline, from southern Florida to Maine.
Coastal flooding is also a concern in certain areas, with advisories issued for many regions. Specifically, large swells and coastal flooding are anticipated from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
States in the Southeast have taken precautionary measures. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency even before Imelda’s formation, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster confirmed that search and rescue crews were pre-positioned.
The powerful ocean churn generated by the storms has already led to property damage. On Tuesday, at least five unoccupied beachfront homes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into the surf, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials. No injuries were reported, but authorities have warned that more beachfront properties remain at risk.
In Cuba, Hurricane Imelda has been linked to two fatalities. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero confirmed late Monday that two individuals died in Santiago de Cuba province, though specific details were not provided. The weather in Cuba is expected to improve later in the week, accompanied by cooler temperatures, as Imelda moves away.
Bermuda, a small island frequently impacted by tropical cyclones, is accustomed to major storms, with 14 hurricanes having come within 10 miles on record. The most recent direct hit occurred last year with Hurricane Ernesto.