Hurricane Imelda strengthened as it moved away from Florida and toward Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Imelda is expected to be a strong Category 2 storm, with winds of 105 mph, as it approaches Bermuda.
The storm is forecast to bring hurricane-force winds, damaging waves and flash flooding to Bermuda late tonight and into early Thursday, Oct. 2.
Imelda is not only stronger Wednesday, with winds of 100 mph, but is moving much faster. On Sept. 30, Imelda was meandering along Florida’s coast at 7 to 9 mph. Wednesday, it’s maintained speeds of 20 to 22 mph.
➤ Track Hurricane Imelda
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Swells generated by Hurricane Imelda and former Hurricane Humberto are affecting Florida, the U.S. East Coast and the Bahamas, bringing life-threatening surf and rip currents. Officials are warning people to stay out of the water.
Imelda is the fourth hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
Highlights on what Hurricane Imelda is doing now
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Hurricane Imelda spaghetti models, path
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
What to know about Hurricane Imelda
At 5 p.m., the center of Hurricane Imelda was located near latitude 31.6 North, longitude 67.9 West.
Imelda is moving toward the east-northeast near 22 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through Thursday night.
A northeastward motion is forecast on Friday and Saturday. On the forecast track, the core of Imelda will be near Bermuda late tonight and move away from the island by Thursday afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible before Imelda passes close to Bermuda late tonight.
Imelda is expected to become an extratropical low on Thursday, with gradual weakening forecast thereafter.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 255 miles. The L.F. Wade International Airport on Bermuda recently reported a sustained wind of 43 mph. An elevated observing site at the National Museum of Bermuda recently reported a sustained wind of 46 mph and a gust of 66 mph.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 966 mb.
Is there a hurricane coming toward Florida?
No.
While Imelda did strengthen into a hurricane Sept. 30 and is expected to continue strengthening and reach Category 2 strength near Bermuda later Oct. 1, it’s moving quickly away from Florida.
What impacts will Hurricane Imelda have on Florida?
Swells generated by Hurricane Imelda and Hurricane Humberto continue to impact much of the U.S. East Coast, including Florida.
The National Weather Service said Florida can expect the following conditions to continue through the week:
Northeast Florida
East-central Florida
South Florida
See map of hurricane/tropical storm watches, warnings issued for Florida, US
There are no watches or warnings associated with Hurricane Imelda for land in Florida or the U.S.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda.
Florida weather radar for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, with Hurricane Imelda offshore
Excessive rainfall forecast across Florida
Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Imelda
Current forecast: Imelda strengthens into Category 1 hurricane
What impact could Hurricane Imelda have and what areas could be affected?
Forecasters urge all residents to keep an eye on the tropics and to always be prepared
Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching, while shelves are fully stocked and you aren’t battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time.
“It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community,” the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X.
➤ See list of emergency supplies you can now buy tax free
On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax-free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators.
➤ Don’t have a hurricane supply kit? From the basics to the extras, here’s what you need
Here are some of the basics you should have:
When does hurricane season end?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the newly renamed Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
What’s next?
We will update our tropical weather coverage daily.
Download your local site’s app to ensure you’re always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This story has been updated with new information.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Strengthening Hurricane Imelda targets Bermuda, these are the Florida impacts
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
