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.The Weather Channel: Hurricane Bertha is Slow-Moving and Stronger (July 11, 2008) Bertha was expected to pass southeast of Bermuda.The Associated Press: Slow-Moving Hurricane Hovers Near Bermuda (July 13, 2008)

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.National Hurricane Center: Atlantic Names

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