Humberto and Imelda could bring flooding, dangerous surf to NC this week
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- Humberto and Imelda could bring high surf, flooding to NC coast this week.
- Swells from storms could trigger dangerous rip currents along East Coast.
- Neither storm should make direct landfall in the U.S.
Update: Find the latest Humberto and Imelda coverage here.
Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda are not expected to make direct landfall in the U.S., but the systems will affect the North Carolina coast this week.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, Humberto was a category 4 storm about 295 miles southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and was moving north-northwest at 13 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Imelda, which strengthened into a tropical storm Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28, was about 205 miles east-southeast of Cape Canaveral at 5 p.m. Monday. It was moving north at 9 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, an uptick in wind speeds since that morning.
NC coastal hazards from National Weather Service
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City is warning of impacts from the storms to east Carteret County, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island:
- Beach hazards statement in effect from 8 a.m. Monday through Monday evening: dangerous rip currents possible
- High surf advisory in effect from 5 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4: breaking waves of 6-8 feet, building to 10-12 feet in the surf zone
- Coastal flood warning in effect from 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 to 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3: moderate oceanside coastal flooding expected, with 2-3 feet of inundation above ground level expected near shorelines and tidal waterways; minor soundside flooding expected, with inundation 1-2 feet above ground level
For west Carteret County:
- Coastal flood advisory in effect 11 p.m. Tuesday-8 p.m. Thursday, with 1-2 feet inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways
- High surf advisory in effect 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1: breaking waves of 5-8 feet in surf zone
For coastal Onslow County:
- Rip currents possible from 8 a.m. Monday through the evening
- High surf advisory in effect 11 a.m. Tuesday-11 a.m. Wednesday: breaking waves of 5-8 feet in surf zone
- Coastal flood advisory in effect 11 p.m. Tuesday-8 p.m. Thursday, with 1-2 feet inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington is also issuing warnings:
- High surf advisory in effect 6 a.m. Tuesday to midnight Thursday, Oct. 2 for coastal Pender and New Hanover counties: breaking waves of 7-10 feet expected in the surf zone
- Risk of high rip currents in effect through Monday evening coastal Pender and New Hanover counties
NC impact from Imelda
North Carolina should expect some rain this week, but overall rainfall totals continue to trend down as the forecast tracks of the storms shift south and eastward.
Minor coastal flooding could occur along the Southeast U.S. coast.
Imelda is expected to make a sharp turn to the east-northeast Tuesday and move away from the southeastern U.S.
It could become a hurricane Tuesday.
NC impact from Humberto
Humberto is forecasted to make a gradual turn toward the north over the next day or so, followed by a east-northeast turn and acceleration by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Swells from Humberto could cause rip currents along the East Coast this week.
Hurricane season 2025
There are about two months left in hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.
The next named storm would be Jerry.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 9:17 AM.
