| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Bertha at peak intensity |
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| Formed | July 5, 1996 | |
| Dissipated | July 14, 1996 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 4 direct, 5 indirect | |
| Damage | $335 million (1996 USD) $466 million (2009 USD) |
|
| Areas affected |
Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States, New England | |
| Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Bertha was a strong, early season major hurricane which impacted areas from the Leeward Islands to Atlantic Canada. Bertha originated from a tropical wave which moved off the eastern coast of Africa in early July. By July 3, an area of low pressure developed along the wave. The low gradually developed and was classified a tropical depression on July 5 about midway between the Lesser Antilles and Africa. Traveling towards the west-northwest, the depression intensified, reaching hurricane-status on July 7. On July 9, a brief period of rapid intensification took place and Bertha reached its peak intensity with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) while located about 60 mi (95 km) of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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On July 1, a tropical wave emerged off of the coast of Africa. On July 3, a weak low-level circulation developed while located 500 miles (800 km) south of Cape Verde. The disturbance moved westward, and on July 5, it strengthened into a tropical depression in the central Atlantic. The depression tracked westward across the open waters of the Atlantic along the western periphery of a subtropical ridge. Later that day, the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm. Over the next three days, Bertha tracked west-northwest while gradual intensification was occurring. On July 7, Tropical Storm Bertha was upgraded to a hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) while east of Guadeloupe.[1]
The next day, the center of circulation passed over Antigua as Bertha traversed the extreme northeastern portion of the Caribbean Sea causing moderate to minor damages. After that, Bertha passed rapidly in the southern portion of St. Maarten, 10 months after Hurricane Luis ravaged the island as a strong category 1 hurricane causing moderate damage to homes, uprooted trees, sunk boats. Pressure fall to 985 mb and gust over 75 mph (120 km/h) in the Princess Juliana Airport. The storm gradually turned to the northwest on July 9 as maximum sustained winds reached 100 knots (190 km/h) while located 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Puerto Rico. Because the highest winds were located on the northeastern portion of the circulation, Puerto Rico received only tropical storm force winds near 50 mph. Forward speed slowed to 15 mph (25 km/h) as Bertha passed within 60 miles (100 km) of the Turks and Caicos, just before reaching its peak intensity.[1]
Continuing its gradual turn, the track soon became north-northwest as the forward speed slowed further to 10 mph (16 km/h) on July 10 and July 11. On July 12, Bertha made landfall between Wrightsville Beach and Topsail Beach. Bertha lost hurricane intensity just after landfall. It then accelerated to the northeast along the East Coast of the United States, producing winds of up to 60 mph (100 km/h). It moved north, and lost all of its tropical characteristics by July 18.[1]
In the United States Virgin Islands, rainfall from Bertha peaked at 3.28 in (83.3 mm) on St. Thomas. Winds from the storm were reported to be sustained at 85 mph (140 km/h) with an unofficial reading of 100 mph (155 km/h). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that 1,415 homes were damaged, of which 43 lost their roofs. Two boats were destroyed, five were grounded, and nine others washed ashore. One injury occurred in Coral Bay as a man rode out the storm in his sailboat. Damages from the storm were estimated at $7.5 million (1996 USD).[2]
The maximum rainfall reported in association with Bertha was 8.17 inches (208 mm) along the Rio Icacos in Naguabo. Wind reports from the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base on July 8 indicated a maximum sustained wind of 44 mph (71 km/h). Although heavy rain did occur, there was no widespread or significant inland flooding reported. There were, however, several reports of swollen rivers which caused some minor flooding of low lying and urban areas;[3] coastal flooding was reported from Carolina to Loiza along road 187.[4] In addition, recorded rainfall at the LMM Airport was 1.56 inches (40 mm).[4]
One death is attributed to Hurricane Bertha; a tourist drowned while surfing in high seas at the Playa Azul beach area in Luquillo.[5] Two other deaths occurred indirectly as a result of Bertha, when two people were killed in a traffic accident while tropical storm force winds were occurring. The hardest hit area was the municipality of Culebra, where most of the damage was to agriculture and commerce. However, because damages were minimum, none of the municipalities were declared disaster areas.[5] The Housing Department estimated damages to homes at $410,000 (1996 USD). The agricultural damages were estimated at $6 million (1996 USD) in the San Juan, Caguas, and Ponce Regions, mostly wind damage to coffee, plantain, and banana crops.[5] In all, it is estimated that $7.5 million (1996 USD) in damage in Puerto Rico were attributed to Bertha.[5]
The Bahamas and the north coast of the Dominican Republic likely suffered light damage, though no damage figures are available for either.
When Bertha made landfall between Wrightsville Beach and Topsail Beach, North Carolina, it brought a storm surge of 8–10 ft (2.4–3 m) with it. Several fishing piers and marinas were destroyed along with numerous boats. In Onslow County, 199 structures were destroyed, of which 117 were mobile homes.[6] In New Hanover County, 1,750 buildings sustained damage. In Kure Beach, near were Bertha made landfall, three homes had their roofs blown off and all structures in the area were damaged. Damages in New Hanover were estimated at $19 million.[7] In Pender County, 40 homes were undermined by beach erosion and four were destroyed. Damages in the county were estimated at $14.5 million.[8] Agricultural damages in Wayne, Wilson, and Johnston counties were estimated at $21 million.[9]
Bertha was one of only 10 major hurricanes recorded before August on record in the Atlantic basin, and was one of just six in July, as well as the first major hurricane in July since the 1926 season. At the time, it was the second strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. in July on record, behind a Storm in 1916. It was since pushed down to 4th place, behind Dennis in 2005 and Dolly in 2008. Before affecting the Lesser Antilles as a Category 1 hurricane, Bertha was a very large storm, the size of a Category 4 storm with a tropical gale force exceeding 300 miles wide and a 150 miles wide hurricane windfield. Due to only moderate damage through Virgin Islands and eastern North Carolina, the name Bertha was not retired and was re-used in the 2002 season. It was re-used again during the 2008 season.
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   | NHC Hurricane Bertha Preliminary Report - TPC NHC BERTHA 1996 PRELIMINARY REPORT |
| | Virgin Islands Event Report - NCDC: Event Details |
| | Peurto Rico Event Report for Hurricane Bertha - NCDC: Event Details |
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