Tropical Storm Imelda Heads for Carolinas' Coastline, Expected to Bring Heavy Rain and Flooding
Tropical Storm Imelda, expected to strengthen into a hurricane, is set to bring heavy rain and potential flooding to the Carolinas' coastline. The storm, currently packing winds of 100 kph and moving north at 15 kph, has already caused power outages and school closures in the Bahamas, with two fatalities reported in Cuba.
Imelda is forecast to dump 10 to 20 centimeters of rain across the northwest Bahamas, with moisture from the storm expected to bring heavy rain to the Carolinas' coastline. The storm is predicted to become a hurricane on Tuesday morning and spin out to open ocean. However, its path may be affected by nearby Hurricane Humberto, a Category 4 storm churning in open waters.
Both South Carolina and North Carolina governors have declared states of emergency in preparation for Imelda. A tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of the extreme northwestern Bahamas, including the islands of Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Island. Power outages have been reported, and authorities have closed government offices on affected islands. Imelda has also forced the closure of most schools in the Bahamas.
Imelda's maximum sustained winds remain at 100 kph as it continues its northward journey. The storm is expected to bring significant rainfall and potential flooding to the Carolinas' coastline, with preparations underway in both South Carolina and North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Bahamas continue to deal with the aftermath of Imelda, including power outages and school closures.
