For more than 20 years Earth Networks has operated the world’s largest and most comprehensive weather observation, lightning detection, and climate networks.
We are now leveraging our big data smarts to deliver on the promise of IoT. By integrating our hyper-local weather data with Smart Home connected devices we are delievering predictive energy efficiency insight to homeowners and Utility companies.
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Alyssa Robinette
Tropical Storm Bertha weakened just about as fast as it formed, with it now being classified as a remnant low pressure. Despite the weakening, Bertha will continue to unleash waves of tropical moisture across most of the eastern U.S.
As of 5 a.m. ET, the remnant low pressure center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located at near 38.3 N and 80.8 W, or about 80 miles north-northwest of Roanoke, Va. The remnants now only have peak sustained winds of 25 mph as it moves north at 28 mph, with a maximum central pressure of 1012 mb, or 29.89 inches.
After quickly gaining tropical storm status and making landfall along the South Carolina coast Wednesday, Bertha quickly weakened and lost its tropical characteristics by Wednesday evening. It may no longer have tropical characteristics, but it will have a deep draw of moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. This will likely end in a result of heavy rain and flooding from North Carolina and western Virginia into West Virginia and southern Ohio today. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches will be likely, though isolated higher amounts will be possible.
This will come on top of 6 to 12 inches of rain the feel during a slow-moving storm system just last week. As a result of that storm, the ground is still quite saturated, and any rainfall is likely to produce flooding. If you come across a water-covered road, remember to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast won’t be spared from moisture from Bertha, with showers and thunderstorms returning to most of I-95 corridor for the end of the abbreviated work week. Along with the return of summer-like humidity, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia could be in line to pick up a quick half-inch to an inch of rain.
Relief is still a few days away, as a cold front is slowly making its way across the central U.S. toward the Eastern Seaboard. Temperatures in the middle 80s with feel more like 90 degrees for the next couple of days, with rain and thunderstorms possible into Saturday. Cooler and drier weather will return for the latter part of the weekend.
The tropical season “officially” begins on June 1, although named storms have occurred in every month on the calendar. Tropical systems that develop in May, like Arthur earlier this month and now Bertha, often form in the Atlantic Ocean near the Carolinas. Other areas of tropical development in May are the western Caribbean and the southern Gulf of Mexico.
This should be taken as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Get a hurricane supply kit together, complete with batteries, a radio, enough food to last days, and blankets. Have plywood on hand to be able to cover windows should a serious storm approach. This is a good time to scope out multiple evacuation routes from your neighborhood and area, in case your preferred route is blocked or traffic-jammed and check with local emergency agencies about evacuation shelters and procedures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.