In the early hours of Thursday, Hurricane Imelda unleashed its fury on Bermuda, packing winds up to 100 miles per hour as it churned directly over the island. The Category 2 storm, which strengthened rapidly overnight, brought heavy rain, dangerous surf, and gusts that rattled homes across the territory. Bermuda's Weather Service had issued a hurricane warning just days earlier, urging residents to hunker down, and now the island is assessing the damage from flooded streets and power outages affecting thousands.
Indeed, Imelda's core passed perilously close, delivering a pounding that officials described as the most direct hit in years. However, the storm's reach extends far beyond Bermuda. As it races eastward, it's whipping up massive waves along the U.S. East Coast, from Florida up through the Carolinas. In Orlando, about 100 miles inland, the weather has turned unsettled—scattered thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 30 mph are forecast through the weekend, with rainfall totals possibly reaching 2 to 4 inches in some areas.
Moreover, the broader hurricane season shows no signs of letting up. Just ahead of Imelda came Hurricane Humberto, a Category 4 beast that brushed Bermuda earlier this week, sparing the island a worse fate but still generating hazardous conditions. For Orlando residents, the real worry lies in the rip currents plaguing beaches from Cocoa Beach to Daytona, where lifeguards have posted red flags and warned against swimming. Coastal flooding has already eroded dunes in spots, a stark reminder of how these distant storms can disrupt everyday life.
However, meteorologists note that Imelda is expected to weaken over cooler Atlantic waters by Friday, potentially easing the surf threats. Still, the back-to-back hurricanes highlight the relentless Atlantic activity this season, with Bermuda caught in the crosshairs twice over. In Orlando, sunny intervals may return by Sunday, but the humidity lingers, a humid haze that clings like an afterthought.
As cleanup begins in Bermuda and beachgoers in Florida rethink their plans, one can't help but wonder how much more the season has in store before it winds down.