By: Staff Writer
September 30, 2025
Tropical Storm Imelda left roadways flooded in its wake over this past weekend in The Bahamas as it makes its way to Bermuda.
Imelda started as a strom depression on Friday as it made its way up the eastern side of The Bahamas, ended up as a full tropical storm on Sunday afternoon while hovering over the capital city of New Providence on its way to East Grand Bahama and Abaco.
Officials had warned of flash flooding, storm surges and dangerous surf as the system continued its slow northern track.
The storm, about 100 miles west-southwest of the central Bahamas, strengthened into a tropical storm at 2pm on Sunday and was expected to reach hurricane strength by late today Monday afternoon.
Imelda, formerly Tropical Depression 9, drenched Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Island and San Salvador in The Bahamas on Saturday, prompting the national airline, Bahamasair, to suspend flights until the all clear.
By Sunday evening, tropical storm conditions spread into the northwest Bahamas. Maximum winds reached 40mph, with forecasters warning of six to twelve inches of rain through Tuesday and surges of up to three feet in coastal areas.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology in its latest advisory said at 8 a.m. on Monday, the center of Tropical Storm Imelda was located about 58 miles northwest of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, 15 miles north of Marsh Harbor, Abaco, 51 miles Eest of East End Grand Bahama.
“On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to move across Abaco today and out of The Bahamas by tonight,” according to the advisory.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 50 miles-per-hour with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast and Imelda could become a Hurricane on Tuesday.
“Tropical storm force winds extend outwards up to 175 miles mainly to the east of the center.
“Moderate to heavy rainfall is now being experienced over Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera and is expected to continue through today.”
The all clear has been given for New Providence, Andros, Berry Islands, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Exuma and its Cays and Cat Island, which means that these islands will no longer be impacted by tropical storm conditions.
“However, heavy rain with isolated thunderstorms can still be experienced as a result of outer bands from Imelda,” the department also said.