Imelda Upgraded to Hurricane, Threatens East Coast and Bermuda

On Tuesday, Tropical Storm Imelda strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, unleashing its power over the western Atlantic. The storm is directly impacting the east coast of the United States, as well as the Bahamas and the Bermuda archipelago, where a more severe impact is anticipated. Although the hurricane's center remains offshore, Imelda has already wreaked havoc in several areas and poses an increasing threat to islands across the North Atlantic.

A Growing Hurricane Heads Toward Bermuda

Imelda is now sustaining maximum winds of 130 km/h and continues to gain strength. The storm's structure encompasses hurricane-force winds extending up to 75 km from its center, and tropical storm-force winds reaching as far as 295 km, creating a vast area capable of causing significant hazards far from its core. Currently moving northeast at a moderate speed of 11 km/h, Imelda is expected to accelerate east-northeast in the coming hours.

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), issued at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, the center of Hurricane Imelda was located at latitude 29.1 north and longitude 76.6 west, about 1,180 km west-southwest of Bermuda. The Bermuda Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning, forecasting that the typical conditions associated with such storms—strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding—will begin affecting the archipelago by Wednesday afternoon and continue at least through Thursday.

Coastal Flooding and Dangerous Surf on U.S. East Coast

Even though Imelda's eye remains distant from the mainland, its effects are already being felt along the U.S. east coast. Swells generated by both Imelda and the massive Hurricane Humberto are causing life-threatening rip currents, beach erosion, and coastal flooding from Florida to the Carolinas. Tragically, in Volusia, Florida, a 51-year-old man died after being swept away by rip currents, as confirmed by the sheriff's office.

The National Weather Service warns of potential minor coastal flooding along stretches of coast from Florida's Space Coast to southern South Carolina. In some areas, water levels could rise 30 to 60 cm above normal during high tides. Additionally, localized rainfall of up to 100 mm is expected in southeastern North Carolina, posing a risk of flash flooding in vulnerable regions.

Unprecedented Dual Hurricane Threat to Bermuda

Bermuda finds itself in the unusual path of two nearly simultaneous cyclones. While Humberto, a large Category 2 hurricane, is skirting the islands' west with rain bands and dangerous swells, Imelda is approaching with greater intensity and a more direct path. Meteorologists describe this as an exceptional situation.

Expert Michael Lowry notes that Imelda and Humberto are separated by only 725 km, making them one of the ten closest storm pairs recorded in the Atlantic since satellite observations began in 1966. This proximity has caused an interaction effect between the systems, with Humberto pulling Imelda towards open ocean, though not entirely removing its threat to land.

Preliminary Casualties in Cuba and the United States

Before reaching hurricane status, Imelda left a trail of destruction. In Cuba, two people died due to the storm's associated severe weather. One victim, a 60-year-old man, perished when his house collapsed in a landslide amid heavy rains, as confirmed by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero. The storm also struck the Bahamas hard between Sunday and Monday, battering the archipelago with torrential rains, hurricane-force winds, and a dangerous storm surge that inundated vulnerable areas.

A Historically Active Hurricane Season

With Imelda's transformation into a hurricane, the 2025 season now counts four hurricanes of at least minimal strength. However, unlike its predecessors—Erin, Gabrielle, and Humberto—Imelda has not yet exceeded Category 1, though it is expected to strengthen to Category 2 within the next 48 hours. Hurricane Humberto briefly reached Category 5 last Saturday, with winds exceeding 250 km/h, before slightly weakening.

This intensity and speed in the formation of major storms have not been observed since 1935 and are seen by experts as a sign of accelerated climate change, as reported by CNN. Global warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, favors the rapid intensification of these systems.

Will the U.S. Remain Hurricane-Free in 2025?

Despite the ferocity of these cyclones at sea, the United States has so far avoided any hurricane landfalls in 2025. The last tropical storm to impact the country was Chantal, which reached South Carolina in July without hurricane strength. If this trend continues, it would mark the first time in a decade that the U.S. has not experienced a direct hurricane hit. However, authorities remain vigilant, as the dynamics of these phenomena could still alter their trajectories.

Imelda's development and its interaction with Humberto create a complex and high-risk meteorological scenario. Although the storm is expected to follow a path away from the North American mainland, its indirect effects have already claimed lives and caused significant damage in the Caribbean and along the U.S. east coast.