Imelda joins Humberto as Atlantic hurricane. Here’s how much rain NC will get
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Imelda strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning with 75 mph winds.
- Parts of southeast North Carolina face rain, flooding risk and wind gusts up to 45 mph.
- Imelda increases 2025's hurricane count to four, with more expected.
Update: Find the latest Humberto and Imelda coverage here.
Imelda intensified into a hurricane on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and is bringing locally heavy rain and other impacts to parts of southeast North Carolina.
As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, Imelda was still a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. By 8 a.m., winds had strengthened to 75 mph, making it a hurricane. Some strengthening is expected over the next couple of days.
Imelda, about 665 miles west-southwest of the Bahamas at 5 p.m. Tuesday, was expected to track toward the east-northeast and approach Bermuda late Wednesday, Oct. 1. Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, it had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.
Humberto weakened and had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The hurricane is about 295 miles west-northwest of Bermuda. It is expected to turn to the northeast today and head east-northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 2, moving west and then north of Bermuda.
Additional weakening is expected for the storm.
Expect rain from Imelda
Parts of Southeast North Carolina have already received rain this week, as moisture has been drawn north from Imelda.
According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington, parts of southeast Brunswick and southern New Hanover counties received up to 3 inches of rain from Sunday evening, Sept. 28 through Monday evening, Sept. 29. Most of the area, however, received between 0.5 inches and 1 inch of rain during that time.
More rain is in the forecast Tuesday for Southeast North Carolina, with light rain expected in the morning and isolated showers in the afternoon.
Strong winds, swells along NC coast
The Outer Banks and parts of Carteret County could get wind gusts up to 40 to 45 mph Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City.
These winds could cause minor to moderate coastal flooding in areas along the coast, with water rising 1-3 feet above ground level. Parts of N.C. 12 could become impassable.
On Tuesday afternoon, the N.C. Department of Transportation closed N.C. 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service Pony Pens and the ferry terminal because of “deteriorating travel conditions,” as ocean overwash breached dunes and pushed sand and water onto the road.
The road is expected to remain closed until at least Thursday morning, Oct. 2, NCDOT said.
Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands was also suspended.
Coastal flooding advisories are in place for areas along the Pamlico Sound, Trent, Bay and lower Neuse rivers and adjacent tidal creeks, and Pamlico and Pungo rivers and adjacent tidal creeks. Other coastal flood advisories are in place starting later this morning or this evening for the northern Outer Banks and west Carteret and coastal Onslow counties.
There’s also a high risk of rip currents for most of the North Carolina coast.
Little rain in the forecast for Charlotte and the Triangle
Some rain is expected the Charlotte area and Triangle on Tuesday morning, but skies should clear in the afternoon.
Rainfall totals from Tuesday morning through 8 a.m. Wednesday are up to 0.1 inches in Raleigh and even less around Charlotte.
When is hurricane season?
So far this year, nine Atlantic cyclones have been given names. And there’s still time for additional storms to develop.
Atlantic hurricane season continues through Nov. 30, and forecasters expect above-normal activity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s August update predicts at least 13 named storms, including at least five hurricanes. Four hurricanes have formed so far — Erin, Gabrielle, Humberto and now Imelda.
Colorado State University predicts 16 named storms, including eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The first three hurricanes that formed this year strengthened to major hurricanes.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 9:59 AM.
