Humberto’s rhythm with Imelda could save Carolinas

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(The Center Square) – Residents of the Carolinas, seldom a fan of hurricanes much less those reaching Category 5, are hopeful for a rhythm between Humberto and Imelda.

Category 4 Hurricane Humberto, about 365 miles north-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands at 11 a.m. Saturday, is expected to strengthen its 145 mph maximum sustained winds through the weekend. Its pull could be enough to interact with Tropical Cyclone Nine – the possible soon to be Hurricane Imelda – in the Atlantic Ocean and thwart major damage in North and South Carolina.

Humberto’s forecasted track by the National Hurricane Center is a swing away from the United States. Sometime Tuesday or Wednesday is the forecast for when the storms will be closest if remaining independent, and each will be due east of the coast between Wilmington in North Carolina and the state border of South Carolina and Georgia.

Tropical Cyclone Nine, at 11 a.m. Saturday, was 180 miles northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba, about 115 miles south of the central Bahamas. Its maximum sustained winds of 35 mph are expected to increase, making it a tropical storm on or before Sunday as it approaches the American mainland early in the week.

And it is expected to stall. From coastal Georgia through the Mid-Atlantic states, the Hurricane Center says rainfall could cause flash, urban and river flooding.

Hurricane status for Imelda, meaning maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph, is predicted late Monday or early Tuesday.

Forecasters say Humberto could pull Imelda to the east; could pull Imelda apart; could form one even larger storm; or in the rarest of possibilities, could engage in the Fujiwhara Effect swirling around a spot similar to what Philippe and Rina did in 2023.

Humberto will be the lead on whatever dance transpires.

South Carolina second-term Republican Gov. Henry McMaster declared an emergency Friday; North Carolina first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, as of 11 a.m. Saturday, has not.