North Carolina state of emergency declared ahead of possible hurricane
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Saturday ahead of a tropical depression expected to become Hurricane Imelda.
“Tropical Depression Nine could have a significant impact on public and private property and could seriously disrupt essential utility services and systems,” Stein said in the declaration.
Prepare for heavy rains and possible flooding, the governor urged North Carolinians.
The state of emergency allows North Carolina’s emergency response team “to mobilize resources and prepare for potential impacts,” according to a statement released by Stein’s office.
“Forecasts remain uncertain, so it’s important that North Carolinians get prepared now,” Stein said. “Have emergency kits ready and listen to local emergency guidance to stay safe and informed.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Friday.
“Strong tropical storm or hurricane conditions remain possible for our coastal counties,” Frank Strait of the South Carolina State Climatology Office said in a weather alert Saturday night.
“Damaging winds, storm surge, excessive rainfall and isolated tornadoes will all be threats, though the level of risk remains uncertain,” Strait said. “We’re also likely to see beach erosion.”
The storm showed signs of slowing late Friday and early Saturday, but could still dump 2 or 3 inches of rain on Charlotte, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
Spread over three days, “that’s pretty manageable,” forecaster Andrew Kimball of the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer around 10 a.m. Saturday.
Despite earlier National Hurricane Center predictions of strong winds and heavy rain across the Carolinas next week, most weather models now show the storm slowing or stalling well off the South Carolina coast, Kimball said.
At 5 a.m. Saturday, a National Hurricane Center bulletin warned of possible hurricane-force winds and heavy rain for the Carolinas.
The Carolinas face “a significant threat of heavy rainfall early next week,” according to a National Hurricane Center bulletin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“The depression is expected to be at or near hurricane intensity when it approaches the U.S. southeast coast early next week,” according to the 11 a.m. update.
“Although it is too soon to specify the exact location and magnitude of impacts, residents should closely monitor the latest forecast updates and ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place,” center officials said.
Hurricane Center officials said they expect tropical storm conditions on the east coast of Florida on Monday. A tropical storm watch was issued Saturday.
A few weather models call for heavy rains in Charlotte and other parts of Western North Carolina, but most models no longer do, Kimball said.
The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm in the Bahamas this weekend, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. Tropical storm warnings and watches were in effect.
The storm at 11 p.m. Saturday
“Heavy rains” continued to batter eastern Cuba and the Bahamas at 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Four to eight inches were falling.
A tropical storm watch was in effect along the east coast of Florida from the Palm Beach/Martin county line to the Flagler/Volusia county line.
At 11 p.m., the depression was “meandering to the south of the central Bahamas,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
The depression trudged along at 2 mph with 35-mph winds, center officials said. The storm was about 220 miles northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba and about 100 miles southwest of the central Bahamas.
Forecasters expected the system to up its speed and strengthen into a tropical storm late Saturday or early Sunday and become a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday.
The system could dump 3 to 6 inches of heavy rain from the east coast of Florida into the eastern Carolinas, with some areas totaling 10 inches, center officials said at 11 p.m.
“This rainfall could result in flash, urban and river flooding,” according to the 11 p.m. bulletin.
Preparing for the storm
Forecasters said now is a good time to prepare for a hurricane, whether Imelda reaches the Carolinas or not.
“Time to dust off your hurricane plans and emergency kits just in case,” NWS meteorologists said on X.
Know where to shelter and “ready your go-bag” of meds and supplies. Charge your phone and fill up your car’s gasoline tank.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM.