On Friday, September 26, 2025, residents across Maryland woke up to a morning shrouded in fog and wet roads, the result of a cold front draped across the state. According to Justin Weather, the day began with moderate rain sweeping over the lower Delmarva and beaches, making for a tricky commute in metro areas and the inland hills. But as the hours unfolded, that stubborn front was expected to slide southward, briefly inviting some dry air and a touch of sunshine—before setting the stage for a rain-soaked weekend ahead.
Yet, it wasn’t just local weather keeping forecasters on their toes. Far out in the Atlantic, a pair of tropical systems—Hurricane Humberto and the brewing Invest 94L—were drawing serious attention, with the potential to impact the entire East Coast in the days to come. As the weekend approached, both meteorologists and event organizers were watching the skies with a mix of hope and apprehension.
Hurricane Humberto, packing sustained winds of 75 mph, had officially reached Category 1 status as of Friday morning. The storm was expected to intensify rapidly, potentially reaching Category 3 strength by the weekend, with its projected path keeping it west of Bermuda, according to Justin Weather. Meanwhile, Invest 94L, a disturbance with a 90% chance of developing into a named storm—likely Imelda—was churning closer to the Bahamas and Cuba, threatening to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to those islands over the weekend, as reported by The Weather Channel.
The looming question for millions along the U.S. Southeast Coast: where would Imelda go next? The European Model, which had already outpaced tropical models in predicting an inland push, had just updated its forecast. Now, it suggested that Imelda would stall off the South Carolina coast for a day, before making its way inland early next week. If this scenario played out, the Carolinas could see a surge of rain, while the Mid-Atlantic might catch a bit of a break. But as The Weather Channel cautioned, uncertainty remained high—Imelda could just as easily linger offshore, make a hard right turn out to sea, or barrel straight into the Carolinas.
“You have this weekend to prepare if you live along the North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia coast,” advised The Weather Channel, underscoring the need for vigilance as the window for preparation narrowed.
Back in Maryland, the forecast for Friday was a mixed bag. After the morning’s damp start, meteorologists expected the clouds to thin and the sun to peek through in many areas. High temperatures in Baltimore were forecast to reach 82°F, well above the city’s normal late-September high of 76°F. But the reprieve was to be short-lived. The same cold front that brought the morning fog would help usher in another round of rain as the weekend progressed, with showers expanding from west to east on Saturday and thunderstorms likely by nightfall.
For those planning to participate in the 100-mile Seagull Century cycling event between Salisbury and Assateague Island on Saturday, the weather was a hot topic. Forecasts called for a dry start with temperatures ranging from 68°F to 73°F and light winds—ideal conditions for cyclists eager to hit the road early. But by midday, the chance of rain would increase, and by afternoon, showers were likely. As Justin Weather put it, “There may be drizzle or a light rain shower. There is a better chance of rain showers during the afternoon.”
The Oceans Calling Music Festival in Ocean City, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, faced similar uncertainty. Organizers and attendees were told to brace for mist and drizzle, with the best chance for steadier rain arriving mid-afternoon Saturday and continuing into Sunday. For festival-goers, packing a poncho and rubber boots seemed like a wise move.
Meanwhile, radar simulations and model snapshots painted a dynamic picture across the region. By Saturday afternoon, heavier rain and thunderstorms were expected to roll into metro areas and the mountains, lingering into the evening and overnight. The 7-day forecast from Justin Weather offered little relief—rain was expected to continue from Sunday through Tuesday, depending on Imelda’s ultimate track, followed by cooler air later in the week.
But the threat from the tropics loomed largest for coastal communities. Hurricane Humberto, on a course west of Bermuda, was expected to generate high surf and dangerous rip currents along the East Coast. More concerning, however, was the prospect of up to five days of pounding waves and beach erosion, fueled by the combined effects of Humberto and (potentially) Imelda. Satellite loops and wave forecasts from the European Model showed the highest waves slamming the coast midweek, raising alarms for property owners and emergency managers from the Carolinas to New Jersey.
Invest 94L’s journey was being closely watched by meteorologists and residents alike. As of Friday, the disturbance was already lashing the Bahamas and Cuba with heavy rain and gusty winds. The National Hurricane Center’s outlook gave it a 90% chance of developing into Tropical Storm Imelda by the weekend. The big unknown remained: would Imelda make landfall, stall offshore, or veer out to sea? The Weather Channel highlighted the range of possibilities, noting, “There was uncertainty whether Imelda would stall offshore for several days, make landfall across the Carolinas, or turn out to sea during the early week of September 29, 2025.”
With the memory of past storms still fresh, officials urged residents along the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia coasts to use the weekend to finalize preparations. Even a glancing blow from a tropical storm can bring flooding rains, fierce winds, and power outages—risks that are all too familiar for communities along the Southeast coast.
Amid the weather drama, life in Maryland and along the coast pressed on. Baltimore’s rainfall deficit—down 11.2 inches since last year—remained a concern for farmers and water managers, even as the forecast promised a temporary reprieve. And events like the Seagull Century and Oceans Calling Festival pressed forward, organizers adapting plans to the shifting forecast, attendees keeping one eye on the sky and another on their phones for the latest updates.
For meteorologists, it was another reminder of the unpredictability of late September weather on the East Coast. As Justin Weather candidly noted, “No one is perfect at predicting the future. All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky.”
As the week drew to a close, one thing was clear: from foggy Maryland commutes to hurricane-wary Carolina beaches, weather was the story on everyone’s mind. Whether the weekend brought sunshine, showers, or the wrath of a newly named storm, residents and forecasters alike were bracing for whatever the atmosphere had in store.
With the tropics in motion and the forecast in flux, all eyes remained on the radar—and on the horizon.
