WeatherFanatics: Bertha's Wind, Rain to Brush Newfoundland Thursday

Monday, August 4, 2014

Bertha's Wind, Rain to Brush Newfoundland Thursday

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

August 4,2014; 9:43PM,EDT

Hurricane Bertha will cruise northeastward off the coast of the United States this week, but it will pass close to Cape Race, Newfoundland, on Thursday.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson, "A brief period of heavy rain and locally gusty winds is possible over southern and eastern Newfoundland on Thursday as the system passes by."
Seas will build quickly later Wednesday into Thursday as Bertha approaches. As a result, small craft should remain in port these days. Seas will subside quickly on Friday.

The system is forecast to be a Category 1 hurricane into the middle of the week before weakening later.

"Warm water will allow the system to survive longer than you might expect as the system moves northeastward," Anderson said. "Water temperatures are about 3 C (5 F) above average around Newfoundland."
As a result, Bertha is likely to be a tropical storm as it passes about 150 km (95 miles) southeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, on Thursday. A few gusts between 70 and 90 kph (45 and 55 mph) are possible along the coast and in higher elevations in the southeastern part of the province.
Soon after passing by Cape Race, Bertha will lose tropical characteristics.
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Bertha has been moving along at a brisk pace since its birth last week. This forward speed will increase as the system turns more to the northeast during the second half of the week, while encountering strong steering winds.
Flooding problems should be relatively minor and brief due to the storm's swift movement.
"Interests on Newfoundland should treat Bertha as a short-lived, but strong nor'easter," Anderson said.

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