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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A storm system approaching from the Atlantic is expected to develop into Tropical Storm Imelda by the end of the weekend, potentially bringing storm surges and strong winds to the Southeast U.S. coastline early next week.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported Saturday that the system, currently known as Tropical Depression Nine, was northwest of Cuba’s eastern tip, moving northwest at 7 mph. It is forecast to cross the central and northwestern Bahamas this weekend before nearing the southeastern U.S. coast early next week. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas.

The system is expected to become a tropical storm by Saturday night or early Sunday, at which point it will be named Imelda.

By around Tuesday, the system will be close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts as possibly a strong tropical storm or weak Category 1 hurricane, and this is where the heaviest rain and strongest winds will be on display for the Carolinas.

Even though a landfall is looking increasingly unlikely, the coastline all the way up to Virginia is expected to see indirect impacts. There will be some rain, moderate wind gusts and coastal flooding from a prolonged onshore flow.

Governor Josh Stein has declared Saturday a State of Emergency for NC, preparing for the potential impacts.

“North Carolinians across the state should prepare for tropical weather to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding,” Stein said. “This State of Emergency will enable North Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team to mobilize resources and prepare for potential impacts. Forecasts remain uncertain, so it’s important that North Carolinians get prepared now, have emergency kits ready, and listen to local emergency guidance to stay safe and informed.”

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Tracking the developing storm’s path

The tropical depression is expected to move into more favorable conditions over the next 24 hours, the reason for its expected strengthening.

Sunday through Monday, the likely storm will track north through the Bahamas and parallel to the east coast of Florida where it will batter the Bahamas with heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds.

While there is still some uncertainty with the track because of a complex steering setup, weather models are beginning to align with the storm beginning to slow down as it approaches the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, then making a hard turn east and avoiding landfall. It may also get a helping “tug” from strong Hurricane Humberto well off to the east near Bermuda.

A State of Emergency was also declared in South Carolina, urging residents to monitor the forecast and prepare.

In an afternoon press conference, SC Governor Henry McMaster said the state has “no intention” of issuing any mandatory evacuation orders for the upcoming storm, but that people should not “be misled.”

“We know that we’re going to have high winds, we know that we’re going to have a lot of water,” the governor said.

McMaster also invoked the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene to compare it to the uncertainty of this storm.

“We remember that it did not go exactly where it was expected to go,” McMaster said. “This storm does not look as strong as it looked yesterday, but that could change tonight.”

The governor said he is “expecting” the federal government to cooperate with them, “100%,” and that Friday’s emergency declaration was to begin putting people and equipment in the right places, including helicopters and aerial resources.

“The good news is the storm will probably stay out in the ocean,” McMaster said, while still cautioning people to be prepared. “Don’t drive through standing water… we lose a lot of people through drowning,” the governor said, calling that “pitiful.”

What to know about Hurricane Humberto

Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto has rapidly intensified to become the third major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and the second Category 5 storm of the year. The NHC said Saturday that Humberto is expected to “remain a powerful major hurricane through early next week.”

Humberto is still expected to track west of Bermuda on Tuesday through Wednesday and stay hundreds of miles west of the U.S., eventually turning northeast and back out to sea without a landfall.

It could also interact with Imelda and help pull the storm out to sea along with it.

ABC News’ Kyle Reiman, David Brennan, and Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A new tropical system may hit the Carolinas as a hurricane next week, bringing significant flooding with it.

The system — which will be named Imelda — could strengthen to a tropical storm on Saturday and may become a hurricane on Sunday or Monday.

The system will move through the Bahamas this weekend and then turn north. While the track remains uncertain, impacts to the Southeast coast are expected.

By Monday afternoon and Tuesday, the storm’s center is forecast to be near the South Carolina coast. The heaviest rain and strongest winds would be in play from South Carolina to Virginia, with storm surge and coastal flooding also possible.

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The system will also interact with a stationary front along the coast, which could stall the storm and allow for several days of rainfall.

Flooding is the greatest risk and damaging winds and storm surge are also possible, depending on how strong the storm is as it approaches the coast.

If Imelda forms, it could become a Category 1 or 2 hurricane, but a major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — is not expected at this time.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto is churning in the Atlantic as a Category 1 storm and may strengthen to a major hurricane this weekend.

Humberto is expected to move west of Bermuda on Tuesday and Wednesday and stay hundreds of miles away from the U.S., eventually turning northwest and going out to sea without making landfall.

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DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Tropical Storm Humberto has formed in the central Atlantic Ocean, about 550 miles east northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.

At 5 p.m., the storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving to the west-northwest at 15 mph.

Humberto is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and could become a hurricane by this weekend, but its track into early next week remains uncertain.

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Humberto could interact with a different storm during the next few days.

We’ll keep you updated on what that means for the progress of both systems.

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