The 2008 season has been quiet so far this year. We had a brief storm at the start of the season, named Arthur that dropped heavy rain in Central America. Since then, we’ve had nothing. Early this morning that changed as the National Hurricane Center upgraded a strong tropical wave off the coast of Africa to a Tropical Storm. Here is the latest: ...

***Updated***

AT 1100 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 24.7 WEST OR ABOUT 190 MILES...310 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SOME GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.  

WHILE THE CENTER OF BERTHA WILL BE MOVING AWAY FROM THE SOUTHERN CAPE VERDE ISLANDS TODAY...OUTER RAINBANDS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS TO PORTIONS OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. 

(click on image for more information from the NHC)

MAXIMUM

Forecasters at the NHC expect the depression to become a named storm later today. Its name would be Bertha. The storm would take over a week to reach the U.S. but right now, that track is too early to call. Remember the peak of the season is not until Sep. 10th. 

See you soon,  

Brian