Hurricane Imelda Slams Bermuda With Fierce Winds, Coastal Flooding, And Heavy Rain
Category 2 storm disrupts power, closes schools, and threatens widespread damage across the island.
Hurricane Imelda struck Bermuda late Wednesday as a Category 2 storm, bringing hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous storm surges to the British overseas territory. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Imelda, located 30 kilometres southwest of Bermuda at 11 p.m., had maximum sustained winds of 155 kph and was moving east-northeast at 46 kph. Forecasters warned of destructive winds, flash flooding, and coastal impacts expected to persist into Thursday morning, prompting a hurricane warning for the island.
Bermuda, known for its sturdy infrastructure, prepared extensively for Imelda’s arrival. Public schools, government offices, and the international airport closed Wednesday, while 100 soldiers were deployed to secure infrastructure, clear roads, and support emergency shelters. The storm was expected to drop 5 to 10 centimetres of rain, potentially causing significant coastal flooding due to storm surges. Hundreds of residents lost power as the storm approached, and authorities urged vigilance. “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.
Earlier, Imelda caused widespread flooding in eastern Cuba, claiming two lives, and left one person missing and two injured in Haiti. The storm follows Hurricane Humberto, which passed west of Bermuda on Tuesday before dissipating. Its remnants, renamed Storm Amy by UK forecasters, are expected to bring rough weather to Ireland and the UK starting Friday. Both storms have generated dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents across the northern Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and the U.S. East Coast.
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The Atlantic hurricane season, running from June 1 to November 30, remains active. Imelda is the season’s fourth hurricane, aligning with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s prediction of an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms, including five to nine hurricanes. Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, noted that conditions could support tropical storms into late October and November, urging continued preparedness.
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