Here Comes Bertha

It is official. As of today, tropical storm Bertha has officially become a hurricane. It is the first hurricane of the 2008 season. (Tropical storm Arthur crossed the Yucatan Peninsula on May 31, 2008 but did not develop into a hurricane.) According to the National Weather Service, there is a definite hurricane eye with Bertha. Wind speeds of 115 mph make her into a category 3 storm. Bertha is moving west-northwest at around 12 mph. The storm is expected to turn to the northwest and slow down a bit over the next few days.

The surprising fact is that the storm was not expected to develop quite so quickly. The storm is also very early in hurricane season. Typically, the worst storms come in the last three months of the hurricane season which runs from June 1st through November 30th. The image to the left shows the possible path of Bertha over the next 5 days. Bermuda residents may need to prepare for the storm, although it is still too early to tell exactly what will happen to the strength and path of the storm. Read more on hurricane safety and preparedness.