Tropical Storm Imelda Forms, Potential Impact on Southeast U.S. Coastline

A storm system in the Atlantic Ocean has developed into Tropical Storm Imelda and is projected to approach the southeastern U.S. coastline in the coming week. As of Saturday morning, the system, designated as Tropical Depression Nine, was located northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba, moving northwest at approximately 7 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts that Imelda will cross the central and northwestern Bahamas over the weekend.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the east coast of central Florida, and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for most of the Bahamas. The storm is expected to track north through the Bahamas and parallel to the east coast of Florida on Sunday and Monday, bringing heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds to the region.

By Tuesday, the system is anticipated to be near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, potentially as a strong tropical storm or a weak Category 1 hurricane. This could result in heavy rainfall, strong winds, storm surge, and coastal flooding in the Carolinas and coastal Georgia during the first half of the week.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster stated that the state has "no intention" of issuing mandatory evacuation orders but urged residents to remain vigilant. He emphasized the potential for high winds and significant rainfall, noting the unpredictability of the storm's path. The city of Charleston has declared a local state of emergency as a precautionary measure. Mayor William Cogswell mentioned that city teams are preparing by clearing drains, staging pumps and barricades, and adjusting staffing to respond quickly if conditions worsen.

In North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein has also declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto has rapidly intensified into a major hurricane, becoming the third major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and the second Category 5 storm of the year. The NHC forecasts that Humberto will remain a powerful major hurricane through the early part of the coming week. Humberto is expected to track west of Bermuda on Tuesday through Wednesday and stay hundreds of miles west of the U.S., eventually turning northeast and back out to sea without making landfall. It may also interact with Imelda, potentially influencing its trajectory.