Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens, threatening Gulf coast of US / Photo: Handout - NOAA/AFP
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens, threatening Gulf coast of US
Tropical Storm Bertha -- the second named storm of the Atlantic season -- strengthened Tuesday, threatening states from Florida to Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was about 70 miles (115 kilometers) southwest of Panama City, Florida, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph as it crawled northwest toward the coast, hurricane hunter planes found.
Tropical storm warnings -- as well as lower-grade watches -- were in effect in parts of Florida and Louisiana.
"Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area along the northern Gulf coast by late today into Wednesday," the NHC's latest advisory said.
Officials forecast a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year, which runs from June 1 to November 30, because of the return of El Nino conditions that suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin.
An average season has 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
R.T.Anglim--IP
