The National Weather Service has announced that tropical storm Bertha has been upgraded to a hurricane, making it the first of the season.
Its current path in the Atlantic is not predicted to affect the East Coast and will pass closer to Bermuda as the weekend approaches, with maximum sustained winds currently at 105 mph. It changed Tuesday from a Category 3 to a weaker Category 2 hurricane.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts that this season has a 60 to 70 percent chance of 12 to 16 named storms, including six to nine hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes.
It is recommended that Virginians prepare in the following ways:
1. Get an emergency supply kit
2. Make a family communication plan
3. Stay informed about threats
Coastal regions such as Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore and the Middle Peninsula have designated hurricane evacuation routes.
Inland, residents should have a plan if they are told to leave the area. According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, if possible, higher ground should be sought to avoid the potential of flash flooding.
The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30.
