Hurricane Imelda Hits Bermuda as Category 2 Storm

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Imelda lashed Bermuda as a Category 2 storm late Wednesday as officials locked up the tiny British territory. Heavy winds and rain that began pummeling the island on Wednesday afternoon were expected to continue through Thursday, with the eye of the storm forecast to pass near Bermuda overnight.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda, a wealthy overseas territory with strong structures that have withstood powerful storms in previous years. Imelda was located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and was moving east-northeast at 24 mph (39 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“This is a dangerous storm system that could bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall and significant coastal impacts,” said Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s national security minister. Bermuda closed its public schools, government offices and international airport on Wednesday as it deployed 100 soldiers to secure infrastructure, clear roads and help at emergency shelters ahead of the storm.

Imelda is expected to drop up to four inches (10 centimeters) of rain across Bermuda and produce a dangerous storm surge that forecasters say could unleash flooding. Hundreds of customers were without power ahead of the storm. The National Hurricane Center warned that the strongest winds may occur early Thursday morning after the center has passed Bermuda.

Impact on the Caribbean

Earlier in the week, Imelda battered the northern Caribbean, unleashing widespread flooding in eastern Cuba, where two people died. In the province of Guantánamo, more than 18,000 people were evacuated, while in Santiago de Cuba, flooding and landslides cut off access to 17 communities where more than 24,000 people live, according to state reports.

On Wednesday, more than 3,500 people remained evacuated in Guantánamo while crews began to repair damaged roads and bridges in the area. Meanwhile, authorities in Haiti said that one person is missing and two were injured following heavy flooding in the country’s southwest and northwest regions.

Deadly Storm

Hurricane Humberto, which had been racing ahead of Imelda, dissipated on Wednesday after passing west of Bermuda on Tuesday. Its remnants were named Storm Amy by U.K. forecasters, who warned it would affect much of Ireland and the U.K. starting on Friday.

Beaches Hit by Dangerous Swells

Imelda and Humberto’s remnants were generating dangerous surf and deadly rip currents affecting beaches along the north Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and much of the U.S. East Coast. At least five unoccupied houses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into the ocean on Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Park Service, marking the latest private beachfront structures to fall into the surf there in recent years.

Hurricane Season Update

This Atlantic hurricane season marks the first time in 10 years that a hurricane hasn’t made landfall in the U.S. through the end of September, according to AccuWeather, a private U.S. weather forecasting company. “This hurricane season so far is quite unique, with several close calls for the United States,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert.

Only Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall in the U.S. earlier this year. He noted that Humberto pulled Imelda away from the U.S. East Coast in what’s known as the Fujiwhara Effect, a rare phenomenon in the Atlantic in which two storms are so close together that they start rotating counterclockwise around each other.

Humberto and Imelda were a mere 467 miles (751 kilometers) apart earlier this week, the closest distance recorded between two Atlantic hurricanes since 1853, according to Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist and storm surge expert.

Remaining Alert

While the Atlantic hurricane season is winding down, DaSilva urged people to remain alert. “We expect atmospheric conditions that could support tropical storms and hurricanes well into late October and November this year,” he said. Imelda reached hurricane strength on Tuesday, becoming the Atlantic season’s fourth hurricane this year.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. Of those, five to nine were forecast to become hurricanes, including two to five major hurricanes, which pack winds of 111 mph (178 kph) or greater. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Conclusion

Hurricane Imelda has brought significant damage and disruption to Bermuda and the surrounding areas. The storm’s impact on the Caribbean has been severe, with widespread flooding and damage reported in several countries. As the hurricane season continues, it is essential for people in the affected areas to remain alert and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current status of Hurricane Imelda?

A: Hurricane Imelda is currently a Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and is moving east-northeast at 24 mph (39 kph).

Q: What is the expected impact of Hurricane Imelda on Bermuda?

A: Hurricane Imelda is expected to bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and significant coastal impacts to Bermuda, with the strongest winds expected to occur early Thursday morning.

Q: How many people have been affected by Hurricane Imelda in the Caribbean?

A: Thousands of people have been affected by Hurricane Imelda in the Caribbean, with widespread flooding and damage reported in several countries, including Cuba and Haiti.

Q: What is the Fujiwhara Effect, and how did it impact Hurricane Imelda?

A: The Fujiwhara Effect is a rare phenomenon in which two storms are so close together that they start rotating counterclockwise around each other. In the case of Hurricane Imelda, the Fujiwhara Effect caused the storm to be pulled away from the U.S. East Coast by Hurricane Humberto.

Q: What is the forecast for the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season?

A: The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to continue until November 30, with atmospheric conditions expected to support tropical storms and hurricanes well into late October and November.