Post-Tropical Cyclone Imelda leaves Bermuda, dangerous surf continues

Former Hurricane Imelda has transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone and is moving away from Bermuda, though the large and powerful storm system continues to generate dangerous surf conditions along the U.S. East Coast.

The National Hurricane Center reported at 11 a.m. Thursday that Post-Tropical Cyclone Imelda was located 350 miles east-northeast of Bermuda, moving east-northeast at 29 mph. The system is no longer classified as a hurricane after completing its transition to an extratropical cyclone.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next few days, but the post-tropical cyclone will remain a large and powerful system as it moves across the central Atlantic.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, while gale-force winds reach up to 310 miles from the storm's core.

Bermuda conditions improving, but surf dangers persist

Gusty winds on Bermuda are expected to gradually subside today as Imelda continues moving away from the island. The system is forecast to maintain its northeastward motion through tonight, then shift to a more northeastward track on Friday and Saturday.

However, distant swells generated by Imelda continue affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda, and much of the U.S. East Coast. These swells will spread toward the Greater Antilles and northern Leeward Islands on Friday and continue through the weekend, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Monitoring two potential tropical systems

The National Hurricane Center is tracking two other areas for possible development in the Atlantic basin.

A tropical wave is expected to move off the coast of Africa over the next day or two in the central tropical Atlantic. The wave is forecast to interact with another disturbance in the eastern tropical Atlantic, with some slow development of the combined feature possible as the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph.

Formation chances for this system remain low, with near 0% probability through 48 hours and 20% through seven days.

In the southwestern Atlantic, an area of low pressure may form along a remnant frontal boundary near the northwestern Bahamas and southern Florida over the next couple of days. Any additional development is expected to be slow as the system moves northwestward across the Florida Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico.

This system is most likely just a rainmaker for parts of Florida heading into the weekend, with formation chances at 10% both through 48 hours and seven days.