South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Imelda moves toward the Southeastern United States. Formed last weekend in the western Atlantic, Imelda is expected to strengthen as it heads northward past the Bahamas by September 30, 2025, slowly moving off the Southeast Coast. The Weather Channel reports that heavy rain, coastal flooding, and dangerous surf warnings have been issued for states from Florida to the Carolinas. Residents could face combined impacts from Imelda and Hurricane Humberto, which is moving through the Atlantic and likely to affect Bermuda this week.
Florida and Georgia Bracing for Impact
By Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, Imelda had produced tropical storms and heavy rain in the central and northwestern Bahamas, located about 95 miles west-northwest of the central islands with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Moving north at roughly 8 mph, the storm’s rainfall could also affect Cuba and the Bahamas. The east coasts of Florida and Georgia may experience high surf and dangerous marine conditions due to both Imelda and Humberto. The National Hurricane Center forecasts 2 to 4 inches of rain across Florida and Georgia, with up to 6 inches locally, and up to 8 inches in parts of Cuba and the Bahamas.
Warnings of Coastal Flooding
A tropical storm warning has been issued for the Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador. Northwestern areas such as Eleuthera, New Providence, the Abacos, Berry Islands, Andros Island, and Grand Bahama are also under alert. Minor coastal flooding of 1–2 inches is expected. Imelda follows Hurricane Humberto, which reached Category 5 intensity over the Atlantic before easing to a strong Category 4.
Forecast and Preparations
Officials note some uncertainty in Imelda’s track due to a complex steering setup, but the storm is slowing as it approaches Georgia and South Carolina. It could reach the coast as a strong tropical storm or weak Category 1 hurricane. The Carolinas are expected to experience the heaviest rain and strongest winds, with moderate flooding and sustained onshore flow, though the risk of landslides remains low. “We know that we’re going to have high winds, we know that we’re going to have a lot of water,” McMaster said.
State of Emergency Measures
While no mandatory evacuation orders are planned, the state has deployed swift-water rescue crews and assigned 150 National Guard troops to assist with storm response. McMaster emphasized, “The time to prepare is now.” The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has already been active, with Hurricane Gabrielle earlier in the week and three major storm events currently ongoing.
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