Wow, I hope there isn't major damage if Berth hits Bermuda.

Bertha has strengthened quite rapidly today. I think NHC may be slightly low on intensity forecasts as the storm looks very much like a major hurricane at the moment.

Big flareup of thunderstorms in West Virgina.

CWG, I have a question:
Is there a web site that has details of past weather and storms searchable by date? Many years ago today, July 5th,1984, I was helping to deliver a boat from St Thomas to Annapolis and we ran into a tropical depression or storm 500 miles out into the Atlantic. We hove to for two days, sustained a 'knock-down' and were in enormous seas. I would love to be able to look up somewhere to see what the storm was, strenght wise. Any ideas where I may be able to look this up?

Bertha has become a Category 3 major hurricane with the 5pm advisory... winds sustained at 115 mph.

Absolutely amazing to see a storm strengthen that much that quickly. Reminds me of Charley a few years ago!

Etta: This might help ya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Atlantic_hurricane_season

Thanks, weatherdude! (I can't find my storm in there. I guess it just feels like a hurricane when you're a tiny speck in the middle of the ocean!)

This is only the second time in over 50 years that a storm has become Category 3 in July or earlier.

www.weather.bm has declared Bertha to be a potential threat to bermuda.

I expect that even if it misses bermuda, it will be close enough to the island to produce huge swells, and this weeks cruises to bermuda might have to change.

"This is only the second time in over 50 years that a storm has become Category 3 in July or earlier."

That's not true. Cindy and Emily reached Category 4 & 5 status in July 2005. Bertha in 1996 reached category 3 status on July 9, 1996.

Oops, that's Dennis and Emily in 2005.

Wow, that was fast. So, we're pretty comfortable that Bertha is gonna curve north, then east, right?

Emily did in fact become Category 3 on July 15, 2005. Apparently the Hurricane Center database from which those statistics were derived was showing only the Saffir-Simpson scale at landfall, so there were undoubtedly earlier occurrences, as well.

Emily was Category 4 at Yucatan landfall.

http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/2005/EMILY/track.dat
http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/2005/EMILY/track.gif

It looks like it was a Category 3 at Tamaulipas landfall.

Is this hurricane center database only including USA landfalls?

Etta, try this one. I love this tool:

http://maps.csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes/viewer.html

Good evening...opinions please -- I have a flight out to Bermuda on Wed. morning with a return on Sun. afternoon. With only a day left before my flight, there might not be enough time to see if the potentional path will change. Have trip insurance, but won't get anything unless flights are canceled (which they won't be on Wed.) Do you think I should chance it? Thanks!

Re NHC historical database:
Yup, if all else fails, read the documentation: "Highest Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale impact in the United States based upon estimated maximum sustained surface winds produced at the coast. See scale below. . . "
That's what you get for trying to decipher data encoded for 80-column punch cards. :(.

Before Bertha, or any other hurricane or natural disaster, I'd urge people to read the poignant new children's book, A FAMILY of FIVE or SIX, the story of a family who became homeless because of a hurricane.

It gives you new appreciation for what families go through.

www.hearus.us/news.htm

The water in the gulf of mexico is very hot and still right now. I'm afraid if any storms make it there, it's going to be like hitting a gas station. Might be a very bad year for the storms that make it into the GOM.

Worried Traveler -- being one myself, and having heard first-hand accounts of people unable to leave Bermuda because of a hurricane, if you're worried, don't go! It wouldn't surprise me if Bertha strengthens still further.

Try weather underground ..... it is a great weather website for past weather conditions

Is that you Brownie?

Yeah, heh.

Keep up the good work.

Wow, this will be interesting!

Folks-- Let's keep this on topic. A post which was needlessly political and contained false information was unpublished. Users who have material unpublished will be blocked from posting on second offense.

worried traveler: Most track guidance now takes Bertha well east of Bermuda. But this is not a done deal... as the island is still in the cone of uncertainty (area where landfall is possible)... so I would just keep a close eye on things. Should have better info on its future course tomorrow

Thank you all for your comments. I see Bermuda is now out of the cone and I guess I'll just monitor it up until my flight tomorrow morning. Crossing my fingers! :-)

Oh noooo. Must be because of Global Warming. hahah. What a joke...

Bertha downgraded to Category 2.