3pm update: Humberto and Imelda to reach closest points on same day
Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to pass within 30 miles — or directly over — the island as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, the latest forecast from the Bermuda Weather Service showed.
At midday, the weather system was almost 830 miles west-southwest of the island moving north at just over 1mph.
The BWS said that Imelda’s nearest forecast point of approach to Bermuda within the next 72 hours was expected to be at 10pm on Wednesday.
That storm is expected to strengthen to hurricane force by tomorrow morning, increasing to Category 2 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto was 320 miles south-southwest of Bermuda at 3pm, travelling northwest at about 13mph.
Its closest point to the island within the next three days was predicted to be 215 miles to the north-northwest at 1am on Wednesday.
In a short-term forecast published earlier for tomorrow and Wednesday, the BWS said that conditions were expected to deteriorate tomorrow.
“Developing Tropical Storm Imelda continues to interact with Humberto, and the Fujiwhara effect between the two tropical cyclones has resulted in Imelda following Humberto,” the bulletin said.
It added that both systems were “considered potential threats to Bermuda during this time”.
The BWS said: “Strong south-southeasterly winds are expected to veer southerly on Tuesday, further strengthening overnight, with the potential for near-tropical storm force winds and higher gusts in and around showers into Wednesday.
“Winds are forecast to slowly decrease into Wednesday evening and may briefly drop light before rapidly picking up to tropical storm to storm force and even perhaps hurricane force with stronger gusts.”
It added: “Bouts of rainfall can be expected on Tuesday, with heavier precipitation favouring the overnight period.
“Higher rainfall totals are being forecast from Wednesday night into Thursday, and street and flash flooding are quite possible over both days.”
The BWS said: “Seas will likely be in a confused state for a time on Wednesday as southerly swells switch to northerly swells.”
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