SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Imelda Still Organizing Near the Bahamas
A disturbance near the Ragged Islands in the Bahamas continues to show signs of circulation, but it hasn’t yet developed into a tropical storm. For now, it remains Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, with winds around 35 mph.
The system is expected to track north-northwest over the next couple of days, steered between a strong Atlantic high and a trough over the Southeast U.S. Beyond that, the forecast becomes less certain. Most models suggest the storm will curve eastward as Hurricane Humberto influences the steering currents, but a few still point to a possible landfall somewhere along the southeastern U.S. coast.
Even if it stays offshore, the system will be close enough to bring strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rain to parts of the Southeast. Forecasters expect it to become a tropical storm within the next 12 to 18 hours and likely strengthen into a hurricane by early next week before running into stronger winds and cooler air.
Humberto Levels Off but Remains Powerful
Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto is holding steady after days of rapid growth. Satellite data show its eye becoming distorted as it goes through an eyewall replacement cycle, but it’s still a very strong storm with winds near 145 mph.
Humberto has at least another day over warm water with favorable conditions, so it could maintain or slightly increase in strength to a category 5 storm by tomorrow. By early next week, stronger upper-level winds should lead to gradual weakening. Even as it weakens, the storm will expand in size, spreading rough seas and strong winds across a wide area.
Right now, Humberto is drifting west at about 6 mph. It’s expected to turn north this weekend and then northeast as a trough from Canada takes over. The latest forecast track shifted slightly east, keeping Humberto offshore but passing close enough west of Bermuda to bring high surf, gusty winds, and dangerous seas.
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