Tropical Storm Imelda NOAA Alert: Path Shift Sparks Flash-Flood Warnings Across Gulf Coast

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Tropical Storm Imelda, the Atlantic basin’s ninth named storm of 2025, is packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) as it churns north-northwest through the central Bahamas toward the open Atlantic. Location and track • At 11 p.m. EDT Monday, the storm’s center was near 24.0° N, 75.5° W, moving NNW at 12 mph. • NOAA’s forecast cone shows gradual strengthening; Imelda could become a Category 1 hurricane late Wednesday while remaining east of Florida before curving northeast toward Bermuda by Friday. Key hazards • Rainfall: 4–8 inches with isolated 12-inch totals across the central and northern Bahamas; 2–4 inches in eastern Cuba. Flash flooding and mudslides are possible in mountainous terrain. • Storm surge: Inundations of 1–3 ft above normal tide levels along low-lying Bahamian coasts. • Winds: Tropical-storm-force gusts extend outward up to 115 miles, already producing scattered power outages on Great Exuma and Eleuthera. • Rip currents: Dangerous surf expected along Florida’s east coast and later Bermuda’s south-facing beaches. Outlook and preparedness NOAA urges residents and travelers in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and coastal Florida to finalize preparedness plans now. Secure loose outdoor items, review evacuation routes, and stock three days of food, water, and medications. Boaters should remain in port until conditions improve. Air Force Reserve “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft will recon Imelda on Tuesday; data will refine intensity estimates and the wind-field extent. Interests from the Abacos to Bermuda should monitor frequent NHC updates and heed local emergency directives. Even if the core stays offshore, heavy rain bands and squalls can arrive well ahead of the center. Do not focus solely on the forecast track—Imelda’s impacts extend far beyond the cone. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, the NHC website, and trusted local meteorologists for real-time advisories and watches.