"they were in imminent danger of being swept away"
synonyms:impending, close (at hand), near, (fast) approaching, coming, forthcoming, on the way, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, just around the corner, coming down the pike, expected, anticipated, brewing, looming, threatening, menacing;
Before the meeting could commence, the leader had to arrive first; however, due to the leader's great dislike of the other members, he was tempted to feign an illness.