Caribbean-On-Line » Caribbean Hurricanes » Hurricane Bertha » BERTHA WEAKENS TO A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE
July 8, 2008
BERTHA WEAKENS TO A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE
Looks like Bertha is weakening, and also forecast to pass wide of Bermuda. Not an all clear yet - but looks like this storm will be just a footnote to this hurricane season:
...BERTHA WEAKENS TO A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE...
AT 500 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 54.8 WEST OR ABOUT 620 MILES... 1000 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 900 MILES...1450 KM...SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 85 MPH...140 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES...45 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM.
LARGE SWELLS AND HIGH SURF COULD BEGIN TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF BERMUDA LATE TOMORROW.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES.
REPEATING THE 500 PM AST POSITION...22.7 N...54.8 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM AST.
