Twin Hurricanes Threaten East Coast and Bermuda

Bermuda, Bermuda – Twin hurricanes, Imelda and Humberto, are currently swirling in the western Atlantic, creating dangerous surf, rip currents, and potential for coastal flooding along the East Coast of the United States. As of early Wednesday morning, Category 1 hurricane Imelda has sustained winds of 90 mph and is centered about 450 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center warns that Imelda is expected to gain strength, possibly reaching Category 2 by Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto, which briefly intensified to a Category 5 storm, has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Humberto is located a few hundred miles northeast of Imelda. Its large size is expected to drive dangerous waves and rip currents farther north along the East Coast, complicating the situation for beachgoers and coastal communities.

Reports indicate that Imelda pulled away from the Bahamas after delivering heavy rain and winds. Unfortunately, it has already resulted in fatalities; a 51-year-old man in Volusia County, Florida, drowned due to rip currents caused by the storm. In Cuba, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero confirmed two deaths linked to Imelda’s impacts, including a man who died when a landslide caused by heavy rain collapsed his home.

In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the National Park Service stated that homes have collapsed into the ocean due to coastal erosion exacerbated by the storms. The erosion, driven by previous storms, left minimal protection for the structures, which were unoccupied at the time of their collapse.

As the storms continue to pose threats, coastal flooding is expected from Florida’s Space Coast to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Residents should prepare for water levels that could rise between 1 to 2 feet above normally dry ground during high tide.

The ebb and flow of these storms has led to a change in projections for the U.S., with less immediate threat compared to earlier forecasts. The U.S. has not experienced a hurricane landfall this year, and if that trend continues, 2025 would be the first year without a landfalling hurricane in a decade.

This hurricane season has seen significant activity, with three hurricanes already reaching major strength, a situation not seen since 1935. However, Imelda is anticipated to peak as a Category 2 hurricane, making it the first storm of the season not to reach major strength.

As Bermuda braces for potential impacts, it remains in the path of both storms. Humberto has already brought bands of rain and gusty winds to the island, while forecasts predict that Imelda could make a direct landfall, bringing winds over 74 mph and significant rainfall. Officials in Bermuda are preparing for possible flash flooding as the storms approach.