Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday afternoon. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday, according to forecasters warning it will bring flash and urban flooding to parts of the Caribbean and southeastern North Carolina.
Imelda, the ninth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 2 a.m. EDT Tuesday update.
It was located about 145 miles north of Great Abaco Island and about 205 miles east of Cape Canaveral, Fla. It was moving north at 7 mph.
The NHC forecasts Imelda to turn toward the northeast later Tuesday followed by an east-northeast turn Tuesday night. It’s also expected to strengthen into a hurricane Tuesday afternoon or Tuesday night.
“On the forecast track, the center of the system should move away from the northwestern Bahamas overnight and away from the southeastern United States today,” the NHC said. “The center should approach Bermuda on Wednesday.”
A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda.
Heavy rainfall is expected across coastal sections of southeastern North Carolina which could produce flash and urban flooding. Mudslides are possible in higher terrain.
