In brief
Bermuda remains under a hurricane watch as Hurricane Humberto nears, with maximum winds reaching 100 mph. Meanwhile, Hurricane Imelda is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly affecting Cuba where two fatalities have been reported. Emergency preparations are advised as both storms raise concerns across the Atlantic region.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (PulseWire) — The outer bands of Hurricane Humberto lashed Bermuda on Tuesday as it approached the British territory, with Hurricane Imelda following closely behind.
A hurricane watch was in effect for the island located in the north Atlantic as forecasters warned of dangerous seas, strong winds, and heavy rain.
Humberto was recorded about 275 miles (440 kilometers) west of Bermuda, classified as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and moving north-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The storm is expected to pass well west and north of Bermuda on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, while Imelda is forecasted to approach or pass directly over the island on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane, according to the Bermuda Weather Service.
Imelda was located approximately 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Great Abaco Island, possessing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and traveling northeast at 7 mph (11 kph).
Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s minister of national security, issued a strong warning, stating the island faces “a serious week of weather,” urging residents to prepare adequately.
Bermuda is known for its robust infrastructure, yet the territory is still expected to see rainfall of up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) from Humberto and 4 inches (10 centimeters) from Imelda, complicating conditions further.
Meanwhile, severe weather leads to dangerous swells impacting the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the U.S. East Coast. Earlier this week, Imelda battered eastern Cuba, resulting in two fatalities.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero confirmed the deaths in Santiago de Cuba province, citing landslides as the cause, cutting off access to 17 communities and affecting over 24,000 residents.
More than 18,000 individuals have already been evacuated in the province of Guantánamo, with conditions worsening as the storms continue to pose significant threats across the region.
