Hurricane Humberto: What travelers should know this week

Published on Sep 27, 2025, 9:40 am CDT

5 min read

Hurricane Humberto strengthened into a major Category 4 over the central Atlantic on September 27. While the storm is expected to stay offshore of the Caribbean and the U.S. mainland, its large wind field is generating long-period swells that will reach Bermuda and sections of the U.S. East Coast early next week. Forecast guidance keeps Humberto powerful through at least midweek as a separate system near the Bahamas develops, complicating airline and cruise operations across the region.

Key points

Why it matters: Large swells and rip currents will affect beaches and ports even far from the storm's track.
Travel impact: Cruise calls and beach landings in the Bahamas and Bermuda may shift; surf conditions will be hazardous.
What's next: Humberto remains a major hurricane into next week; a Bahamas system could drive U.S. coastal weather.
Airports to watch: L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) and select Southeast gateways if the Bahamas system organizes.
Timing: Swells build Monday, peak Tuesday-Wednesday for parts of the Carolinas and Bermuda.

Snapshot

As of the 5 a.m. AST advisory on September 27, Humberto's maximum sustained winds were near 145 mph, with the center roughly northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and moving slowly west at 6 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects Humberto to remain a powerful major hurricane through early next week. The Bermuda Weather Service classifies the cyclone as a potential threat as it approaches from the distant south, with deteriorating marine conditions beginning Monday. Along the U.S. East Coast, National Weather Service offices in the Carolinas flag a long-duration swell event from Humberto, elevating rip-current risk and surf hazards Tuesday into Wednesday. Separately, a developing system near the Bahamas could influence wind, rain, surge, and airline operations along the Southeast coast next week.

Background

Atlantic hurricanes often produce far-field impacts via swell, not just wind or rain near the core. Long-period waves travel hundreds of miles and can create dangerous surf, strong rip currents, and beach erosion even under fair skies. Airlines typically watch runway crosswinds, visibility, and ground operations for airports like L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), while cruise lines may adjust calls at tender-dependent ports such as the Bahamas' private islands to avoid unsafe sea states. With Humberto likely curving north and east near Bermuda, and another disturbance organizing near the Bahamas, travelers should expect rolling operational adjustments across flights and sailings early in the week of September 29.

Latest developments

Humberto's swell will drive rip current risk and port challenges

Forecast products indicate Humberto will remain a major hurricane into next week, sending a pulse of 10-15-second swell toward Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast. The Bermuda Weather Service notes increasing winds and hazardous seas along the south shore beginning Monday, with the island under potential-threat status as the hurricane approaches from the south. In North Carolina and South Carolina, National Weather Service briefings call out a longer-duration swell event from Humberto, with the greatest impact Tuesday-Wednesday, when surf and rip-current risk will peak. Mariners off the Southeast coast can expect rapidly building seas midweek, with marine forecasts showing double-digit wave heights in some coastal waters. Beachgoers should heed local flags and advisories, and cruise passengers should anticipate itinerary swaps or timing shifts where tendering is required.

Separate Bahamas system raises U.S. coastal weather risk

A distinct disturbance near eastern Cuba and the Bahamas is expected to develop as it lifts toward the Southeast U.S. early week. Local NWS offices highlight the potential for heavy rain, coastal flooding, and increasing winds depending on track and intensity. Even if Humberto stays well offshore, this Bahamas system could prompt airline schedule adjustments at coastal airports and late-breaking cruise changes for Bahamas routes. Travelers with Monday-Thursday departures should reconfirm flights, monitor same-day gate changes, and build extra transfer time, especially for connections that involve coastal highways or ferry legs.

Analysis

For air travel, the primary Humberto-related risk in the near term is disruption at Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) if the storm's closest approach brings hazardous crosswinds or heavy rain. U.S. mainland airports are more likely to see secondary effects from the Bahamas system than from Humberto itself. Airlines typically issue weather waivers when confidence in impacts rises; because guidance still shows track uncertainty for the Bahamas system, expect waivers to appear in a rolling fashion and to target specific dates and city pairs. Proactively rebooking can secure better seat inventory if your travel window overlaps peak-impact periods.

For cruises, sea state is decisive. Long-period swell undermines tender operations and can force private-island substitutions or extra sea days across the Bahamas and, at times, Bermuda itineraries. Ships with calls Monday-Wednesday are the most exposed to schedule changes as Humberto's swell peaks and the Bahamas system evolves. Ports with piers fare better than tender-only stops, but captains may still adjust arrival windows to catch safer weather. On land, beach hazards will escalate even under sunny skies; local advisories should guide swimming and watersports decisions. Overall, the safest assumption for early next week is fluid operations and the value of flexible plans.

Final thoughts

Humberto is a classic example of a "far-field" hurricane with real travel consequences. Expect hazardous surf and rip-current risk, cruise tweaks around the Bahamas and Bermuda, and selective airline accommodations as confidence in the Bahamas system firms up. Build margin into itineraries, watch local advisories, and check with your airline or cruise line before you head out. Staying flexible is the best way to navigate the week ahead with Hurricane Humberto.