A new tropical system — which will be named Imelda — may strengthen to a hurricane by the time it reaches the coast of the Carolinas early next week.
The heaviest rain and strongest winds would be in play from South Carolina to Virginia, with storm surge and coastal flooding also possible.
Here are the answers to some of your questions on hurricanes, answered by ABC News meteorologists Samantha Wnek, Melissa Griffin and Kyle Reiman.
How are hurricanes formed?
Hurricanes are formed by feeding off the warmth and moisture of the ocean. Air then rises and is replaced constantly by the surrounding air. Below all this rising air, low pressure develops.
In this image released by NOAA, Hurricane Erin is shown on Aug. 16, 2025.
NOAA
What are the hurricane categories?
Hurricanes and other tropical systems are measured with the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which measures the maximum sustained winds produced by the system near the surface.
The scale was developed to estimate property damage based on a hurricane’s winds, but the scale doesn’t take into account other potentially deadly hazards like storm surge and flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricanes are ranked from Category 1 to Category 5:
- Category 1: Winds 74-95 mph
- Category 2: Winds 96-110 mph
- Category 3: Winds 111-129 mph
- Category 4: Winds 130-156 mph
- Category 5: Winds 157 or higher
How long does a hurricane usually last?
If you are in the hurricane, conditions could last 12 to 18 hours. In a slow-moving hurricane, conditions could last up to 24 hours.
The hurricane itself, from its formation to its deterioration, can last in the ocean for weeks.
How do you know when a hurricane is coming?
If you’re relying on looking at the weather outside to know when a hurricane is coming, often you won’t get any indication at all. The day before a hurricane could have sunny skies with calm winds.
That’s why you should listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or pay attention to warnings from authorities.
What is a storm surge and why is it so dangerous?
As pressure falls in the hurricane’s center, water levels rise. The water accumulates while the storm is still over the open ocean.
When the hurricane closes in on land, its strong winds push that water toward the coast and up onto land, creating walls of water sometimes as high as 20 feet.
The danger to people inside houses on the coast is the vicious deluge of water that can flood homes and climb up walls rapidly. When Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey in 2012, many homes quickly filled with water.
The risks can be even greater if storm surge combines with high tide, creating a devastating, rapid rise in water levels.
ABC News’ Emily Shapiro and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
