Hurricane Imelda developed Tuesday morning off the southeastern coast of the United States, and it’s expected that the system will strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane as it nears Bermuda later in the week.
As the British Overseas Territory prepares for a potential direct hit, the U.S. will be dealing with their own impacts as well. While there will be no landfall, Hurricane Imelda will be causing deadly rip currents on the East Coast from Florida up to New England. Hurricane Humberto is also contributing to gargantuan waves for the coast as it spins beside Imelda. (RELATED: Tropical Storm Imelda Strengthens Into Hurricane Ahead Of Potential Rare Merge With Humberto)
According to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory, Hurricane Imelda has 80 mph maximum sustained winds with gusts that are hitting higher speeds, and it’s expected that strengthening of the storm will continue.
The latest forecast from the NHC has maximum sustained winds potentially reaching 100 mph by Wednesday evening, which would upgrade Imelda to a Category 2 hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
11AM AST Sep 30 Hurricane #Imelda Key Messages: A hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda. #Imelda is expected to bring damaging winds, waves, and heavy rainfall Wednesday into Thursday. Life-threatening rip currents will continue to affect the U.S. east coast beaches… pic.twitter.com/7GZUVHpOah
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 30, 2025
Hurricane Imelda’s center is around 735 miles from Bermuda in the west-southwest direction, and it’s moving at 7 mph to the northeast.
Over the coming days, it’s expected that Hurricane Imelda will head to the east-northeast with a faster forward speed, according to the National Hurricane Center. If the storm remains on that forecast track, Imelda’s center will relocate Tuesday from the Bahamas and near Bermuda by Wednesday afternoon.
The NHC issued a Hurricane Warning for Bermuda and stated the luxury island could start experiencing tropical storm conditions by Wednesday afternoon, with hurricane conditions following by Wednesday evening.
Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.