Humberto weakens near Bermuda as Imelda threatens island; U.S. East Coast warned of dangerous swells
Humberto — which strengthened into a hurricane earlier in the week — has weakened as it nears Bermuda, where hurricane watches and warnings have been issued and officials urged residents to finish preparations, while nearby Imelda is closing in from the south and is forecast to strengthen to near Category 2 after prompting evacuations and school closures in parts of the Bahamas. Forecasters say the pair of storms are already generating large swells, life‑threatening surf and dangerous rip currents from the Bahamas up the U.S. East Coast (Florida to New Jersey), with heavy rain and localized flash‑flood risks where Imelda passes.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Humberto formed on Sept. 24, 2025 in the central tropical Atlantic (initially a tropical storm) and was forecast to strengthen in its early stages.
- As of late Sept. 30–Oct. 1 updates, Humberto was centered roughly 275–300 miles west of Bermuda with sustained winds near 80 mph, moving NNW around 17–18 mph; it was expected to weaken/dissipate in the next couple of days while merging with a frontal boundary.
- Imelda has strengthened near the Bahamas and was reported at roughly 85–90 mph while moving ENE (earlier located near Great Abaco); forecasts called for it to approach/ pass near Bermuda late Wednesday as a Category 2 storm (near ~96 mph) before becoming extratropical.
- Bermuda was under a hurricane watch/warning; authorities ordered closures of the international airport, schools and government offices and Minister Michael Weeks urged residents to complete preparations, warning of sustained hurricane‑force winds for several hours.
- The National Hurricane Center, NOAA and forecasters warned that swells and hazardous surf generated by Humberto and Imelda are affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda and much of the U.S. East Coast (Florida to New Jersey), with life‑threatening rip currents and dangerous surf expected.
- Imelda was expected to bring significant rainfall — 4–8 inches across the northwest Bahamas and 2–4 inches to eastern Cuba — and was already producing heavy rain in parts of southeastern North Carolina with flash‑flood risk; forecast totals for Bermuda were up to ~4 inches from Imelda and up to ~2 inches from Humberto.
- Forecasters said Humberto’s large circulation could interact with Imelda in a Fujiwhara‑type effect, likely forcing Imelda east‑northeast and reducing the threat to the U.S. mainland, according to AccuWeather and other analyses.
- FEMA urged residents of Southeast U.S. coastal areas to monitor conditions and pay attention to a separate tropical disturbance (Invest 94L) near the Bahamas that could develop and threaten the southeastern U.S. early next week.
📰 Sources (7)
Hurricanes Imelda, Humberto likely to bring dangerous conditions to East Coast
New information:
- National Hurricane Center reported specific wind speeds: Imelda at 90 mph and Humberto at 80 mph.
- NHC quote warning that swells from both storms are affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda and much of the U.S. East Coast and are likely to cause life‑threatening surf and rip currents.
- Forecast detail that Imelda is expected to strengthen near Category 2 (~96 mph) as it passes close to Bermuda this afternoon/evening and then become an extratropical low in a couple of days.
- Confirmation that a hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda and that Humberto is expected to merge with a frontal boundary tonight while remaining a powerful cyclone until then.
Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda charge toward Bermuda as the tiny island prepares
New information:
- Bermuda's minister of national security, Michael Weeks, warned Imelda would bring sustained hurricane‑force winds for up to six hours and urged completion of preparations by noon Wednesday (direct quote and attribution).
- Bermuda's international airport, schools and government offices were ordered closed on Wednesday.
- Updated storm positions and intensities: Humberto ~300 miles west of Bermuda with 80 mph winds moving NNW at 18 mph and forecast to dissipate by Wednesday; Imelda ~690 miles WSW of Bermuda with 85 mph winds moving ENE at 12 mph and expected to pass near/over Bermuda late Wednesday as a Category 2.
- Forecasted rain totals specific to this briefing: Humberto could drop up to 2 inches on Bermuda; Imelda up to 4 inches.
- Explicit U.S. impact detail and attribution: AccuWeather expert Alex DaSilva warned of dangerous rip currents and hazardous surf from Florida to New Jersey tied to both storms; Imelda is already producing heavy rain in southeast North Carolina with flash‑flood risk.
Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda barrel toward Bermuda as the tiny island prepares
New information:
- Hurricane Humberto located about 275 miles (440 km) west of Bermuda with max sustained winds of 100 mph and moving north‑northwest at 17 mph.
- A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda; Bermuda minister Michael Weeks urged residents to prepare.
- NOAA/AccuWeather warnings that Humberto is generating dangerous swells and rip currents affecting beaches from Florida to New Jersey.
Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda threaten the Bahamas and Bermuda
New information:
- Reports that Tropical Storm Imelda prompted mandatory evacuations and that a majority of schools in parts of the Bahamas were closed on Sept. 29, 2025.
- Imelda specifics: located about 10 miles southeast of Great Abaco Island, sustained winds 50 mph, moving north at 9 mph and forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday.
- Forecast rainfall amounts tied to Imelda: 4–8 inches across northwest Bahamas and 2–4 inches across eastern Cuba.
- Explanation and attribution that Hurricane Humberto (Category 4, 145 mph) is likely to cause a Fujiwhara interaction, forcing Imelda east-northeast and away from the U.S. mainland — with AccuWeather expert Alex DaSilva quoted describing the effect.
Humberto becomes a hurricane in the Atlantic as Gabrielle moves away from the Azores
New information:
- National Hurricane Center reports Humberto is now a hurricane located about 465 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and moving slowly northwest.
- Forecast that Humberto is expected to strengthen substantially over the weekend, with potential to become a major hurricane.
- FEMA has urged residents of coastal areas in the Southeast U.S. to pay attention to a separate tropical disturbance (Invest 94L) that may develop near the Bahamas and threaten the southeastern U.S. early next week.
Tracking the tropics as Humberto strengthens into a hurricane
New information:
- Humberto has been reported to strengthen from a tropical storm to a hurricane.
- CBS News meteorologist Rob Marciano provided an on-camera update confirming the upgrade.
- The upgrade was reported to have occurred on Friday.
Tropical Storm Humberto forms in Atlantic. Maps show its forecast path.
New information:
- Humberto formed September 24, 2025, in the central tropical Atlantic (NHC advisory).
- As of the NHC update it was ~550 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands, moving WNW at ~15 mph.
- Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 45 miles; NHC forecasts steady strengthening.
- It is the eighth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season; currently no coastal watches or warnings are active.
- NHC director Dr. Michael Brennan provided analysis noting warm sea-surface temperatures and favorable mid-level humidity.