Humberto is now a hurricane & expected to strengthen. Latest forecast for NC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Humberto became a hurricane and may intensify into a major storm this weekend.
- Coastal North Carolina should expect rip currents and other impacts soon.
- A second system may form near the Bahamas, posing risk to Southeast U.S. early next week.
Update: Find our latest coverage on Humberto here.
Humberto has developed into a hurricane, and additional strengthening is expected this weekend.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, the storm was 430 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. A quick increase in wind speeds from earlier in the morning resulted in the storm being categorized as a major hurricane by Friday afternoon, a category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The storm was moving west-northwest at 5 mph, and forecasters expect the storm will strengthen and have a west-northwest to northwest motion during the next few days. By Monday, Sept. 29, it will turn toward the north-northwest, according to the NHC.
Humberto is the third hurricane and third major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, following Erin and Gabrielle.
The next named storm would be Imelda.
Humberto impact on NC
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City said Thursday afternoon, Sept. 25 that the risk of long-period swell impacts from Humberto is increasing for Eastern North Carolina. Those swells will likely begin to arrive Monday, Sept. 29, with peak impacts coming Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Swells could increase the risk of dangerous rip currents and bring large breaking waves, ocean overwash and wave runup.
Inland impacts are possible, though unclear, because they depend on the track and intensity of the tropical wave in the Caribbean, the forecast office said.
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington echoed the Morehead City’s prediction that rip currents are expected along the coast next week.
Tropical depression likely forming soon
At 5 p.m. Friday, the NHC named a disturbance about 55 miles away from the eastern tip of Cuba Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.
Expected to become a tropical depression Saturday, Sept. 27 and a tropical storm later that day or early Sunday, Sept. 28, the storm was moving toward the northwest near 9 mph.
The center of the system was expected to track across the central and northwestern Bahamas over the weekend and approach the Southeast U.S. coast early next week.
Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for the Bahamas, and the NHC said Friday afternoon that there is “an increasing threat of heavy rainfall” early next week from coastal Georgia through the Carolinas and into the southern Mid-Atlantic region, which could cause flash, urban and river flooding.
The NHC also said the system will likely be at or near hurricane intensity when it approaches the U.S. coast early next week.
Preparing for hurricanes
Hurricane season continues through Nov. 30, and the possibility remains that a powerful storm could affect North Carolina. Even a storm that stays offshore can impact the state, particularly the coast, as Erin did.
North Carolina Emergency Management recommends these tips for preparing for hurricanes:
- Make a plan with your family about what you will do before, during and after an emergency. Know how to communicate and where you will go. It’s a good idea to have a designated out-of-state contact.
- Know how to turn off utilities such as water, gas and electricity safely.
- Gather copies of important documents such as social security cards, birth or adoption certificates, passports or green cards, wills, insurance policies and bank statements in a waterproof container with your emergency kit.
- Make an emergency kit with basic supplies such as enough food and water for each person for at least three days, a battery-powered or hand crank radio and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, cell phone and charger, first aid kit, prescription medications, flashlights and cash. Learn more about making an emergency kit at readync.gov.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM.
