Hurricane Bertha (2008)

Hurricane Bertha

Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Bertha near peak intensity on July 7
Formed	July 3, 2008
Dissipated	July 21, 2008
(Extratropical after July 20, 2008)
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 125 mph (205 km/h)
Lowest pressure	952 mbar (hPa); 28.11 inHg
Fatalities	3 direct
Damage	Minimal
Areas affected	Leeward Islands, East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada, Europe
Part of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Bertha was both the longest-lived and easternmost developing July tropical cyclone on record. The second named storm, as well as the first hurricane and major hurricane of the 2008 hurricane season, Bertha originated as a tropical wave over western Africa on July 1. After emerging into the eastern Atlantic, favorable environmental conditions allowed the wave to organize into a tropical depression two days later. Early on July 3, the depression intensified into a tropical storm, and by July 7, the system had acquired enough organization to be considered a Category 1 hurricane. Turning towards the northwest, a period of rapid deepening ensued thereafter. Bertha intensified into a major hurricane—a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale—at 1800 UTC and further intensified to reach its peak intensity with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) three hours later. A period of substantial weakening began early on July 8 as the system entered a region of higher wind shear, though it attained a secondary peak as a Category 2 hurricane on July 10. Shortly thereafter, the system entered an eyewall replacement cycle while simultaneously tracking over cooler ocean waters; this caused Bertha to weaken to a tropical storm by July 13. Moving northeast, southeast, and eventually resuming its northeast motion, the system attained hurricane intensity once again very briefly before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on July 20. The extratropical low was absorbed by a larger system the following day.

Following formation, Bertha produced light precipitation across Cape Verde. Several days later, preceding its track across a large portion of the Atlantic, the system brought several inches of rain to Bermuda. Tropical storm-force winds caused minimal damage in the form of broken tree limbs and downed power outages; however, no fatalities were reported. Large swells impacted the East Coast of the United States as the hurricane curved out to sea, resulting in two fatalities; in addition, one swimmer was never found and is presumed dead. Strong rip currents along the coastline of North Carolina injured four while at least sixty required rescuing; farther north, in New Jersey, at least 57 people had to be rescued. In Delaware, at least 55 people were injured.