Photo: CIRA/NOAA
Bermuda is preparing for a rare double threat as Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto churn in the western Atlantic. On Tuesday (September 30), Imelda intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph, located about 200 miles east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and 755 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. Humberto, once a Category 5 storm, is now a Category 2 hurricane, positioned just a few hundred miles east of Imelda.
Bermuda is under a hurricane warning, facing a potential direct hit from Imelda after Humberto passes by to the west. Imelda is expected to strengthen further, possibly reaching Category 2 status with winds up to 100 mph by Wednesday evening. As reported by 6abc, the storms are generating dangerous surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding along the U.S. East Coast.
Imelda has already caused damage and fatalities. In Volusia County, Florida, a 51-year-old man drowned due to rip currents. In Cuba, two people died, including a man whose home collapsed in a landslide. The Bahamas also experienced heavy rain and winds from Imelda, leading to localized flooding.
Humberto's large size is compounding hazards along the U.S. East Coast, driving dangerous rip currents and big waves farther north. Weather.com reports that coastal areas from Florida to North Carolina could see water levels rise 1 to 2 feet above normal at high tide.
Bermuda is preparing for the impact, with hurricane conditions expected by Wednesday evening. The island could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain, increasing the risk of flash flooding. The swells generated by both hurricanes are leading to life-threatening surf and deadly rip currents along the U.S. East Coast.