Will Savannah See Impacts from Future Imelda? Here’s the Latest

Friday morning brought new updates on the tropical disturbance currently being tracked as Invest 94L. The system is expected to become a tropical depression over the weekend as it moves near the Bahamas. If it strengthens, it will take the name Imelda.

Current status

As of 8 a.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center gives this disturbance a 90% chance of development within the next seven days. Showers and thunderstorms are becoming more organized near Hispaniola and eastern Cuba, and heavy rains are likely to impact the Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the next day or two.

Timing for Savannah

If this storm tracks toward Georgia or South Carolina, the most likely window for impacts is Monday through Wednesday (Sept. 29 – Oct. 1). That could include heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough surf, even if the center stays just offshore. Watches and warnings may be issued as early as this weekend.

How strong could it get?

It’s still too early to pin down exact strength for Savannah, but here’s what the models show as of Friday morning:

• Tropical Storm – The most likely scenario, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding.
• Category 1 Hurricane – A possibility if the system stays offshore long enough to strengthen before landfall.
• Category 2 or higher – Considered less likely right now, but not impossible depending on how the system interacts with land and Hurricane Humberto to the north.
  

The takeaway: Savannah should prepare for the potential of a strong tropical storm or low-end hurricane, but confidence in exact intensity won’t improve until the system organizes this weekend.

What you should know

• This is not a guaranteed landfall situation, but Savannah is inside the possible cone of impacts.
• Coastal flooding and higher tides are possible even without a direct hit.
• The storm’s strength will depend on how much time it spends over warm water and whether Humberto steers it away.

We’ll keep updating this page with the latest forecasts through the weekend. Check back for fresh model runs and National Hurricane Center updates as the track and intensity become clearer.