Environment

Atlantic storm Bertha may become hurricane

by Rob Peters | July 6, 2008 at 03:50 pm

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Forecasters say Bertha could become the season's first hurricane within 48 hours, but it's still unclear where or how hard it will hit. It's currently about 1,200 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, according to the AP.

MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Bertha, moving briskly across open ocean waters, may strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic storm season sometime during the next 48 hours, U.S. weather forecasters said on Sunday.

Bertha seemed more likely to veer away from South Florida on Sunday, as models predicted a sharp turn to the northwest.

But it will be days before forecasters can say with any certainty whether the tropical storm will threaten land.

The storm showed the first signs of developing an eye on Sunday afternoon and could strengthen to a hurricane early this week.

Bertha is moving into warmer waters as it heads west at 20 miles per hour, but should run into wind shear in 48 hours, forecasters said.

All of the models agree that the storm will turn to the northwest when a ridge over the western Atlantic weakens.