NWS Update as of Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025
Important Reminders Based on Latest Forecasts
- Do NOT Let Your Guard Down—No weather forecast is set in stone, and there is still a lot of uncertainty about what track this storm will ultimately follow or what level of intensity Tropical Depression Nine will bring to our area
- Anticipate Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding This Week regardless of whether Tropical Depression Nine makes landfall or goes out to sea
- Brunswick County is a Coastal, Low-Lying Area—Significant rainfall in short periods of time can lead to localized flooding in areas and flooding on roads and highways. If you encounter flooded or barricaded roads, always TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN!
- Consider Ways to Support Your Situational Safety This Week such as identifying when and where you regularly drive and whether you can modify your plans or routes should storm conditions create perilous driving conditions and/or roads/highways flood
Brunswick County and the National Weather Service in Wilmington are monitoring Tropical Depression Nine (formerly PTC #9). Community members in Brunswick County and the surrounding areas should stay alert and monitor these systems in the event they further develop and require protective actions.
What to Anticipate: There are several factors about this system that make it difficult for meteorologists to predict its track and intensity, especially whether it could shift east toward sea, west toward land, or potentially still move further north (closer to our region).
Forecast trends can still change and we will still feel impacts from this storm regardless of where it turns, so it is important to not let your guard down. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm could be upgraded to Tropical Storm Imelda in the near future but this is still to be determined.
This is an evolving event and weather forecasts are always subject to change. Remain alert for updates from the NWS-Wilmington at weather.gov/ilm and find the latest weather information at weather.gov/ilm/briefing and weather.gov/ilm/tropical.
Brunswick County will share updates concerning Tropical Depression Nine at brunswickcountync.gov/ptc9.
Latest Update from NWS-Wilmington
Latest NWS briefing as of Saturday, Sept. 27 at 5:10 p.m. / Next NWS briefing planned for Sunday, Sept. 28 at 6 a.m.
Key Points
- There is a moderate potential for flooding rainfall early to mid-week for northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina. Potential impacts include flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas, some road scours are possible along with a few wash-outs, and flooding hazards during nighttime hours, when it is harder to recognize the danger.
- Up to 1-inch or rainfall is possible Sunday prior to any rainfall from Tropical Depression Nine with the highest amounts expected along the coast.
- Tropical Depression Nine is expected to create average rainfall amounts of 3 to 6-inches with the highest amounts focused along the coastal areas.
- Plausible high-end amounts of 8 to 10-inches are possible, especially along coastal areas.
- Most likely time of arrival of tropical storm force (39+ mph) winds is during the day on Tuesday.
Summary of Potential Hazards and Impacts
- Winds: Tropical storm force winds are possible for some coastal areas, especially along the northeast South Carolina coast. The strongest winds are currently expected to remain offshore unless the track change. These winds could cause power outages and downed trees/limbs.
- Storm Surge: Storm surge flooding and significant beach erosion is possible for some coastal areas of the Carolinas early to mid-week. Coastal flooding could linger into late week.
- Rain & Flooding: Flooding from heavy rainfall is likely early next week, especially across low-lying and poor drainage areas, with the heaviest rainfall expected early to mid-week.
- Tornadoes: There may be a risk of isolated tornadoes between Monday night and Wednesday, mainly across coastal areas of southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina.
- Marine: Dangerous marine/surf conditions are expected to develop on Monday, along with strong rip currents through most of next week. Swells from Humberto will also add to the hazardous maritime/beach conditions.
County Operational Updates
- Brunswick County’s Emergency Operations Center is currently activated to Level 3 – Enhanced Monitoring
- All Brunswick County operations are currently running as scheduled (subject to change based on future weather forecasts)
- GFL Environmental will assess road conditions and other factors to determine whether their crews can safely collect curbside trash and recycling carts as normally scheduled. If you have questions about your curbside trash and recycling cart collections, contact GFL Environmental at 910.253.4177 or check their website for updates: gflenv.com/brunswick.
What You Need to Do Now
Best Practices & Safety Reminders
- Register for the ReadyBrunswick emergency notification system
- Remain alert for updates from the NWS-Wilmington at weather.gov/ilm and find the latest weather briefing at weather.gov/ilm/briefing and weather.gov/ilm/tropical
- Have multiple ways to get weather information (local news and radio stations, NOAA weather radios, National Weather Service, emergency alert notifications, etc.)
- Have a plan. Know how you will keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe if flooding is forecast for your area. Make sure you consider your family’s unique needs, including anyone who needs medicine or medical equipment. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if you aren’t together should flooding start.
- Never drive on flooded or barricaded roads—TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN!
- Review and discuss your household hurricane plan with your family or housemates. Identify where you plan to go in the event you choose to relocate or need to evacuate, check your evacuation zone (Know Your Zone) in case an evacuation is issued, choose which route you will take, and discuss how you will communicate with each other throughout the event.
Find more preparedness information and resources at brunswickcountync.gov/hurricanes.