This storm took shape as tropical storm Bertha in the carribean near Barbados.  It needed to cross harsh atmospheric environment and land masses before it was able to strengthen into a hurricane.  After emerging into open water of the western atlantic it began to strengthen and just as it emerged into the wave window for most of east Florida it’s winds were sustained at 75 mph, the minimum to be categorized as a hurricane.  At 3am on Monday tropical storm Bertha’s winds were sustained at 65 miles per hour.  By nine in the morning the winds were sustained at 70 miles per hour; not quite hurricane winds.  At 3pm the reconissance team returned with evidence of sustained winds at 80mph, and so on August 4 at 3pm the storm was considered a Hurricane.     Continue reading Tropical Storm/Hurricane Bertha →