Hurricane tracker: Imelda to hit South Carolina as Hurricane, state of emergency in North Carolina, Hurricane Humberto, Tropical Storm Narda threat remain

A weather system that is forecast to become Tropical Storm Imelda later in the day before approaching the coast of South Carolina as a hurricane early next week was causing disruption in the Bahamas and nearby islands on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto weakened very slightly but remained a strong Category 4 storm in the Atlantic, threatening Bermuda. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster urged people to monitor the weather closely and stay alert. And in North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency in advance of the system, currently called Tropical Depression Nine.

Hurricane Imelda

Forecasters said the system was on track to become a tropical storm later Sunday and a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday. It would be named Imelda. As of 0900 GMT on Sunday, the system was located about 100 miles (160 kilometres) west-southwest of the Central Bahamas and was headed north-northwest at 7 mph (11 kmph). Its maximum sustained winds were 35 mph (55 kmph).


The storm could bring high winds and heavy rain, which could produce flooding, he said. The state was prepositioning search and rescue crews over the weekend.

Hurricane Humberto

Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto has weakened slightly, but is still a major storm. Humberto had maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kmph), according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, making it a Category 4 hurricane. It was located about 585 miles (945 kilometres) south of Bermuda and was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kmph).

A tropical storm watch could be required in Bermuda later in the day, forecasters said, and swells could reach the U.S. East Coast on Monday.

Tropical Depression Nine was threatening parts of Cuba and the Bahamas with heavy rainfall and flash flooding, with portions of the latter under a tropical storm warning. More warnings and watches were expected later Sunday, the hurricane centre said.

The Bahamas' Department of Meteorology urged people in the northwest and central islands, which include Nassau, Andros Island, San Salvador and Long Island, to “make final preparations” for tropical storm conditions. The agency said it expected the centre of the system to move across that region throughout Sunday.

“Residents in low-lying areas should take actions to mitigate property damage due to flooding,” it said in the statement.

The tropical disturbance brought heavy rains to the Dominican Republic on Friday, leading authorities to evacuate hundreds of people and declare a red alert in five provinces.

Tropical Storm Narda in Pacific

Tropical Storm Narda, formerly a hurricane, is about 1,045 miles (1,680 kilometres) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and is heading north at 5 mph (7 kmph). Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph (95 kmph).

Swells generated by Narda are affecting coastal Mexico and Baja California Sur, forecasters said, and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are possible in Southern California.

FAQs

Q1. What do we know about Hurricane Humberto?
A1. Hurricane Humberto has weakened slightly, but is still a major storm. Humberto had maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kmph), according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, making it a Category 4 hurricane.

Q2. What do we know about Tropical Storm Imelda?
A2. Forecasters said the system was on track to become a tropical storm later Sunday and a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday. It would be named Imelda.