Tropical Storm Imelda is strengthening north of the Bahamas and beginning its hard right turn eastward, sparing the US coast from a direct strike. But the storm is still churning up dangerous surf, rip currents,

Wrightsville Beach officials are urging residents to remain vigilant as potentially hazardous conditions from Tropical Storm Imelda approach.

Tropical storm alerts have been posted and at least one state has declared a pre-emptive state of emergency as a looming storm system is on its way to becoming future Hurricane Imelda, bringing the potential threat of heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the Southeast.

Future Imelda, Invest 94L, will likely develop by Saturday as it brings heavy rain and gusty winds to the Bahamas and Cuba this weekend. This disturbance will get closer to the U.S. Southeast Coast early next week.

Forecasters expect Hurricane Humberto to pull Tropical Storm Imelda away from landfall and into a Fujiwhara dance, but the East Coast is still set to experience heavy rains and life-threatening rip currents.