Hurricane Bertha - August 2, 2014
A tropical wave moved south of the Cape Verde Islands on July 26. The
system began to organize on July 28, with a low pressure
area forming on July 29. The cyclone would carve out of parabolic path
through the north Atlantic during its life cycle. Tropical
storm status was achieved on August 1 while approaching the Lesser
Antilles. Vertical wind shear was an issue through much
of its life cycle, which slowed development. Its center moved south
of Puerto Rico on August 2 while moving swiftly through
the northeast Caribbean sea. Bertha moved by eastern Hispaniola on
August 3 before emerging back into the north Atlantic.
Bertha's development resumed as it moved by the Turks and Caicos Islands
late that day. By August 4, Bertha had become a minimal
hurricane, despite structural issues. The cyclone accelerated and turned
towards the northeast ahead of an upper-level trough,
which began its extratropical transition. Bertha fully evolved into an
extratropical cyclone south of Nova Scotia on August 6.
The cyclone raced across the north Atlantic, striking Great Britain on
August 10 and into Scandanavia on August 14.
The
graphics below show the storm total rainfall for Bertha, which used
information from the National Weather
Service River Forecast Centers, Forecast Offices, and CoCoRAHS.