Humberto weakens near Bermuda as Imelda threatens island; U.S. East Coast warned of dangerous swells
Humberto — which formed Sept. 24 and strengthened into a hurricane — has been weakening as it nears Bermuda, prompting hurricane watches and island preparations while forecasts showed it likely to diminish as it passes. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Imelda, located near the northern Bahamas and expected to strengthen, has prompted evacuations and school closures there and is forecast to pass near or over Bermuda while producing heavy rain locally and dangerous swells, rip currents and hazardous surf along the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New Jersey.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Humberto formed Sept. 24 in the central tropical Atlantic as the eighth named storm of the 2025 season; it began as a ~40 mph tropical storm roughly 550 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands and was forecast to strengthen.
- Humberto strengthened into a hurricane (upgrade reported Sept. 26) and was at one point reported as a major hurricane; by Sept. 30 it had weakened as it approached Bermuda, located roughly 275–300 miles west of the island and moving NNW at about 17–18 mph with sustained winds reported in the ~80–100 mph range and a forecast to weaken/dissipate.
- Tropical Storm/Hurricane Imelda threatened the Bahamas and Bermuda: on Sept. 29 it was near Great Abaco with ~50 mph winds (moving north) prompting mandatory evacuations and school closures in parts of the Bahamas; by Sept. 30 it was reported farther west/southwest (~690 miles WSW of Bermuda) with ~85 mph winds, moving ENE and expected to pass near or over Bermuda as a Category 2.
- Forecast rainfall and flooding risks: Imelda was forecast to produce 4–8 inches across northwest Bahamas and 2–4 inches across eastern Cuba; Bermuda was forecast to receive up to about 2 inches from Humberto and up to about 4 inches from Imelda; Imelda was also producing heavy rain and a flash‑flood risk in southeast North Carolina.
- Meteorological interaction: forecasters and AccuWeather experts warned Humberto’s size and intensity could induce a Fujiwhara‑type interaction that would steer Imelda east‑northeast and away from the U.S. mainland.
- Preparations and closures: a hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda; Bermuda’s government ordered airport, schools and government offices closed and its minister warned of sustained hurricane‑force winds for up to six hours and urged residents to complete preparations; parts of the Bahamas carried mandatory evacuations and school closures.
- U.S. impacts and watches: NOAA, AccuWeather and other forecasters warned Humberto and Imelda were generating dangerous swells, hazardous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New Jersey; FEMA also urged residents of Southeast coastal areas to monitor a separate tropical disturbance (Invest 94L) that could develop near the Bahamas and threaten the southeastern U.S. early next week.
📰 Sources (6)
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.