When might flooding, wind gusts impact Midlands as potential hurricane brews?
The National Weather Service of Columbia advised residents to prepare for “impacts from a strong tropical storm or low-end hurricane” as a potential tropical storm stirs in the Atlantic.
Although the potential size and track of invest 94-L — which would be named Imelda if it grows into a tropical storm — remains “highly uncertain,” the weather service said there’s a high probability (90%) the weather system, currently a tropical wave, will at least become a tropical cyclone over the weekend. It could subsequently bring heavy rainfall, flooding and gusty winds to the Midlands, with those impacts potentially starting as early as Monday.
Meteorologist Steve LaVoie of the National Weather Service Columbia said the forecast will become more clear after the invest becomes an organized tropical depression or storm, adding that there currently are no official alerts from the National Hurricane Center or National Weather Service.
However, during a weather briefing Friday afternoon, LaVoie said to “prepare for impacts from a strong tropical storm or a low-end hurricane.”
Notwithstanding invest 94-L, LaVoie said periods of heavy rainfall are expected in the Columbia area late Friday and into Saturday, which may result in localized flash flooding.
Invest 94-L is currently located near the eastern tip of Cuba and is moving off to the west-northwest, LaVoie said.
The invest could develop into a tropical cyclone as early as 5 p.m. Friday, according to the weather service.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
