Hurricane Bertha
Tropical storm Bertha was upgraded to a hurricane on July 7, 2008. Hurricane Bertha is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2008 season. The eye of the hurricane formed about 775 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands.
Bermuda issued a Tropical Storm Watch on July 11, 2008. Hurricane Bertha weakened to a Category 1, and was expected to move north-northeast very slowly over the next several days.1 Bertha was expected to pass southeast of Bermuda.2
Fast Facts
- July 13, 2008: Hurricane Bertha at a near standstill, about 220 miles southeast of Bermuda2
- Maximum sustained winds: near 75 mph with higher gusts2
- July 12, 2008: Hurricane Bertha caused strong rip currents along the coast of New Jersey3
- Leeward Islands include; Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Barbuda, Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis 4
- July 8, 2008: Category 1 hurricane5
- Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1
- Bertha is the first hurricane in the 2008 Atlantic season
- 1996: Coincidentally, another hurricane named Bertha was formed on July 76
About Hurricanes
A hurricane is a powerful storm system which forms over the ocean and moves towards coastal areas or islands. The storm consists of extremely high winds, heavy rain, and increased ocean wave activity. On radar, a hurricane generally has a circular shape with a dot in the center called the "eye." The "eye" is the calm area of the storm, which is surrounded by a low pressure system causing the violent swirl around it. The World Meteorological Organization labels modern hurricanes with people's names. The personal names help reduce confusion when tracking multiple storms.7
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