Tropical Storm Imelda strengthens as Hurricane Humberto weakens
A tropical storm watch was posted in Florida on Sunday as Tropical Storm Imelda formed neared the Bahamas and Cuba. As Imelda strengthens, Hurricane Humberto weakens.
Hurricane Humberto is now a Category 4 storm. On Sunday it was tracked just south of Bermuda — moving west-northwest. Experts said storm swells could affect the United States coast on Monday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Imelda’s winds sustained 40 mph on Sunday. Despite growing in strength, Imelda has been trending away from a direct landfall. Experts said the storm is expected to make an abrupt turn east on Monday. From there it will intensify into a hurricane.
In late May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projected an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, predicting 13 to 19 named storms — compared with the seasonal average of 14. Meteorologist Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, said at the time six to 10 of those storms could develop into hurricanes.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has seen significant budget cuts under the Trump administration, raising concerns about its ability to provide life-saving forecasts. The service’s regional offices play an integral role in warning the public about dangerous weather.
U.S. Rep Mike Flood, R-Neb., advocated for maintaining the NWS as a core public safety agency within the federal government. The Weather Workforce Improvement Act was introduced in the House of Representatives in early June– where it still sits.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
