Maps show Tropical Storm Imelda forecast to threaten Southeast this week

Tropical Storm Imelda fashioned Sunday within the western Atlantic and is forecast to strengthen over the following few days, bringing the specter of torrential rainfall to parts of the southeastern U.S. early this week, in response to the Miami-based Nationwide Hurricane Middle.

Imelda, the ninth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is forecast to change into a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Imelda forecast maps

As of two p.m. EDT Sunday afternoon, Imelda was situated about 95 miles west-northwest of the Central Bahamas, with most sustained winds of 40 mph.

Imelda’s middle was anticipated to cross over the central and northwestern Bahamas Sunday, earlier than finally making its method to the U.S. shoreline. The Bahamas and Cuba are already receiving heavy rains from the system. 

“Regular strengthening is forecast throughout the subsequent a number of days,” the hurricane middle mentioned.

Imelda is forecast to convey as much as 8 inches of rain to Cuba and the Bahamas, with the opportunity of flash and concrete flooding and mudslides.

Parts of Florida’s East Coast, north to the jap Carolinas, might see wherever from 3 to 10 inches of rain, the hurricane middle mentioned. 

Tropical storm warnings and watches for Imelda

A tropical storm warning was in place Sunday for the Central Bahamas, together with Cat Island, the Exumas, Lengthy Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, parts of the northwestern Bahamas, together with Eleuthera, New Windfall, the Abacos, Berry Islands, Andros Island and Grand Bahama Island.

A tropical storm watch is in impact for the East Coast of Florida, from the Palm Seaside-Martin County line to the Flagler-Volusia County line. A “watch” means tropical storm circumstances are potential within the space inside about 48 hours.

“Tropical storm circumstances are potential within the watch space alongside the  east coast of Florida on Monday,” a hurricane middle advisory mentioned Sunday. “Storm whole rainfall quantities of two to 4 inches with native maxima of seven inches are anticipated into Wednesday morning throughout parts of the coastal Carolinas.”

Imelda follows Hurricane Humberto

Imelda comes on the heels of Hurricane Humberto, which quickly intensified to a significant hurricane over the Atlantic on Saturday however just isn’t anticipated to achieve land. Humberto reached as excessive as a Class 5 on Saturday earlier than fluctuating again right down to robust Class 4.

Forecasters mentioned final week there was a small risk the 2 programs might work together, creating what’s known as a Fujiwhara effect, a uncommon phenomenon wherein two totally different storms merge and change into entangled round a newly fashioned, widespread middle. Nevertheless, they mentioned it was not thought-about a probable final result on this case.

U.S. officers brace for Imelda

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency forward of Imelda on Friday, writing that “whereas the storm’s arrival, velocity, and depth stay laborious to foretell, we do know that it’s going to convey important wind, heavy rainfall, and flooding throughout the ENTIRE state of South Carolina.”

On Saturday, McMaster wrote on social media that the forecast had “improved” however that Imelda “nonetheless poses a big menace to our whole state.”

The Federal Emergency Administration Company mentioned Friday it is usually making ready for Imelda’s potential affect. Whereas the FEMA Nationwide Response Coordination Middle has not but been activated, FEMA is planning the potential necessities for staging bases within the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic that might be stocked with meals, water and turbines if wanted. 

Emily Mae Czachor

contributed to this report.