Hurricane Humberto Reaches Category 5 as Tropical Depression Nine Forms, Imelda Threatens U.S.

Hurricane Humberto intensified to Category 5 in the Atlantic on Saturday, a rapid escalation that comes as forecasters monitor a second system developing in the basin. The storm was packing sustained winds near 160 mph and moving west, with forecasters noting the storm has grown large and dangerous as it approaches a region between the eastern Seaboard and Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center and meteorologists cautioned that confidence in exact track and intensity for both systems remains limited, but the immediate threat to Caribbean islands and the U.S. Atlantic coast is rising.

Humberto’s trajectory was forecast to keep it well offshore of the United States for the next day or two before turning toward the open ocean. Forecasters said the storm’s size and strength could drive dangerous coastal swells and rip currents in addition to high winds in affected areas. A tropical storm watch was issued along Florida’s east coast, from Palm Beach County north to Volusia County, as the system’s outer bands spanned broad sections of the Atlantic.

In parallel, the National Hurricane Center announced that Tropical Depression Nine formed in the central Atlantic on Saturday and is expected to strengthen through Sunday night, potentially becoming Hurricane Imelda by Saturday night or early Sunday. Forecasters warned that the new storm could reach the United States at or near Category 1 intensity next week, with places such as coastal Georgia, the Carolinas, and mid-Atlantic states facing the prospect of heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds as it moves northward.

The system’s formation prompted renewed emergency preparations along the Southeastern states. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a State of Emergency Friday as authorities cautioned residents to monitor forecasts and heed official alerts. “While the storm’s arrival, speed, and intensity remain hard to predict, we do know that it will bring significant wind, heavy rainfall, and flooding across the ENTIRE state of South Carolina,” McMaster said. “Now is the time to start paying attention to forecasts, updates, and alerts from official sources and begin making preparations.”

NOAA forecasters noted that Tropical Depression Nine is expected to strengthen through Sunday night as it tracks toward the Bahamas, with potential impacts extending into the central and northwestern Bahamas and, depending on the system’s eventual path, portions of the southeastern United States. Rainfall projections include up to 8 inches across the Bahamas, up to 16 inches in Cuba, and up to 4 inches across Jamaica and Hispaniola, underscoring the broader risk of flooding even before the U.S. landfall threat becomes clearer. A tropical storm watch was also issued along Florida’s east coast in anticipation of the first bands to reach the coast.

Emergency officials emphasized that the exact timing and strength of Imelda remain uncertain, and residents from Florida to the Carolinas should stay prepared for rapid changes in forecasts. Forecasters warned that even as Humberto threatens areas farther offshore, the second system could eventually bring heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and gusty winds to parts of the Bahamas and the United States as early as next week, depending on its eventual track. Officials urged people in vulnerable coastal and low-lying regions to secure property, review evacuation plans if applicable, and monitor updates from the National Weather Service and local authorities.

Context from observers and climate researchers indicates that multiple storms forming in close succession during peak Atlantic hurricane season is concerning, as it tests preparedness across regions already contending with active weather patterns. While Humberto’s immediate danger lies offshore, the broader Atlantic activity signals potential periods of heavy rain and gusty winds for both the Caribbean and the United States over the coming days. Residents are advised to remain vigilant, follow official briefings, and prepare for shifting forecasts as the two storms continue to evolve.