As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season intensifies, communities across the northern Caribbean and along the southeastern United States are grappling with the impacts of Tropical Storm Imelda, while keeping a wary eye on the powerful Hurricane Humberto swirling nearby. On Monday, September 29, authorities in the Bahamas took the precautionary step of closing most schools, bracing for the heavy rains and gusty winds Imelda was unleashing across the region. The storm’s approach forced the closure of government offices in affected areas and led to mandatory evacuation orders on several islands over the preceding weekend, according to the Associated Press.
Imelda, situated about 140 miles (220 kilometers) north of Great Abaco Island, packed maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and was moving north at 8 mph (13 kph) as of late Monday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami forecast that Imelda would strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday morning, before veering out into the open Atlantic. Early Tuesday, the tropical storm warning for the extreme northwestern Bahamas—including Great Abaco, Grand Bahama Island, and surrounding keys—was lifted, signaling some relief for residents still recovering from past disasters. It’s impossible to forget that Great Abaco is still rebuilding after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 monster that battered the Bahamas in 2019.
Yet, Imelda’s effects were already being felt far and wide. Power outages hit several areas, authorities reported, and flights to and from the islands were canceled, with airports expected to reopen only after weather conditions improve. The storm dumped between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain across the northwest Bahamas through Tuesday, threatening localized flooding and further complicating recovery efforts in vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in Cuba as Imelda’s rains triggered deadly landslides and flooding. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced late Monday that two people had died in Santiago de Cuba province due to the storm’s impact. While he did not provide details, earlier reports from state media identified one victim as 60-year-old Luis Mario Pérez Coiterio, who lost his life following landslides in the area. The official newspaper Granma reported that flooding and landslides cut off 17 communities in Santiago de Cuba, isolating more than 24,000 residents. In neighboring Guantánamo province, more than 18,000 people were evacuated as a precaution, according to the state-run Caribe television channel.
Imelda was forecast to bring another 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain to eastern Cuba, raising concerns about further flooding and landslides in already saturated regions. The scale of displacement and the disruption of daily life were palpable, as communities scrambled to ensure safety and secure essential supplies.
As Imelda churned northward, meteorologists kept a close watch on Hurricane Humberto, which had weakened to a Category 3 storm early Tuesday but remained a formidable presence in the Atlantic. Located about 265 miles (430 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), Humberto boasted maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph). A hurricane watch was issued for Bermuda, and authorities warned that both Humberto and Imelda could come dangerously close to the island later in the week. Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert for AccuWeather, described the scenario as "a double whammy for Bermuda, Humberto first and Imelda following close behind."
DaSilva also explained a rare meteorological phenomenon at play: the Fujiwhara effect. "The two storms would draw closer and start rotating counterclockwise around each other," he said, noting that this effect would likely cause Imelda to turn east-northeast, away from the southeastern U.S. coast. "It’s a very rare phenomenon overall in the Atlantic basin," DaSilva added. The interaction between these two powerful systems, according to DaSilva, is "really what’s going to be saving the United States from really seeing catastrophic rainfall."
Despite the storms’ projected paths sparing the U.S. from direct hits, their influence was still being felt along the Atlantic seaboard. Moisture from Imelda was expected to bring heavy rain through Tuesday morning to the Carolinas, with the heaviest downpours concentrated along the coastline from Charleston, South Carolina, to Wilmington, North Carolina. Inland cities like Charlotte and Raleigh were forecast to receive 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 centimeters) of rain. Wind gusts up to 40 mph were anticipated along the Carolina coasts, and meteorologists warned of dangerous surf and heavy rip currents throughout the week.
In response, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said that search and rescue crews had been prepositioned ahead of the storm’s arrival. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein had already declared a state of emergency before Imelda even formed, underscoring the region’s heightened state of alert. Further south, authorities on Tybee Island, Georgia, distributed free sandbags to residents, encouraging them to prepare for possible flooding.
Even Florida, which was not in Imelda’s direct path, experienced its effects. At the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, staff found two turtle hatchlings—known as "washbacks"—that rough surf had tossed ashore over the weekend. "We actually had two washbacks come in over the weekend," said Justin Perrault, the center’s vice president of research. "We may get more as the day goes along." He noted that typically, beachgoers will spot a hatchling resting in the seaweed and call the center for help. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, local resident Carl Alexandre expressed relief that the storm was not heading toward South Florida, but added, "I would pray for those in the Bahamas. It’s great that we’re not having one as of right now. And now we get to run in the Florida sun."
As Bermuda braced for what could be a near-miss from both Humberto and Imelda, the island’s national security minister, Michael Weeks, urged residents to take preparations seriously. "There have been some near misses this season regarding severe storms," Weeks warned. "Hurricane Humberto is a dangerous storm, and with another system developing to our south, every household in Bermuda should take the necessary steps to be prepared."
With flights canceled and airports shuttered across the Bahamas, many residents and travelers found themselves stranded, waiting for weather conditions to improve. The sense of unease was palpable, but so too was the resilience of communities across the region—many of whom have faced storms before and know all too well the importance of vigilance and preparation.
As the week unfolds, all eyes remain on the Atlantic, where the rare dance between Imelda and Humberto could spell relief for some and fresh danger for others. The full impact of these storms will become clearer in the days ahead, but for now, the Caribbean and southeastern U.S. continue to weather the tempest, hoping for the best while preparing for whatever comes next.