Two major storms will affect the East Coast, even without landfall

By NAZANEEN GHAFFAR

Two storms moving through the Atlantic Ocean are creating hazardous conditions along much of the East Coast of the United States this week. Hurricane Humberto, a powerful Category 4 storm, is near Bermuda, while Tropical Storm Imelda is strengthening near the Bahamas and could become a hurricane by Tuesday.

Neither storm is expected to make landfall in the United States. But both are producing high surf, life-threatening rip currents and heavy rainfall along the East Coast.

They are also affecting nearby islands, and the National Hurricane Center said a hurricane watch could be issued for Bermuda later Monday.

Here’s what you need to know:

— Along the southeastern U.S. coast, the risk of damaging winds from Imelda is decreasing. One to 2 inches of rain could still fall in northeast Florida, coastal South Carolina and coastal North Carolina, with isolated areas receiving up to 4 inches — which could lead to localized flash and urban flooding through Tuesday.

— High surf and life-threatening rip currents from Humberto and Imelda are already affecting the northern Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda. These dangerous ocean conditions are expected to reach the east coasts of Florida and Georgia on Monday, before spreading northward along the rest of the U.S. East Coast early this week.

— Imelda is expected to continue bringing tropical storm conditions through Monday to parts of the northwestern Bahamas, where a tropical storm warning remains in effect. Four to 8 inches of rain is expected, which could cause flash flooding. Eastern Cuba could see 2-4 inches of rain, with a risk of mudslides in higher terrain.

— Humberto could bring tropical storm conditions by late Tuesday to Bermuda, where a tropical storm watch is in effect. The hurricane center said Bermuda could receive up to 2 inches of rain from Humberto through Tuesday, with an additional 2-4 inches of rainfall possible from Imelda midweek.

— Storm surge could raise water levels 1-3 feet above normal in parts of the Bahamas, which may cause minor flooding of 1-2 feet along some parts of the southeastern U.S. coast.