Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Bertha; Heavy Rainfall Expected

The National Hurricane Center issued the following bulletin regarding Tropical Storm Bertha at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, May 27, 2020:

TROPICAL STORM BERTHA FORMS NEAR THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA
TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED

SUMMARY OF 8:30 AM EDT INFORMATION

• Location: 32.7N, 79.4W (About 30 Miles ESE of Charleston, SC)
• Maximum Sustained Winds: 45 MPH
• Present Movement: NW or 320 Degrees at 9 MPH
• Minimum Central Pressure: 1009 MB, 29.90 Inches

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of South Carolina from Edisto Beach to South Santee River.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning, in this case in the next few hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

At 8:30 AM EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 32.7 North, longitude 79.4 West. Bertha is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through tonight. On the forecast track the center of Bertha will move onshore in the warning area in the next  few hours and the move inland across eastern and northern South  Carolina later today and into west-central North Carolina by  tonight. 

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Bertha is expected to weaken to a tropical depression after moving  inland and become a remnant low tonight. 

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

RAINFALL:  Bertha is expected to produce total rain accumulation of  2 to 4 inches with isolated totals of 8 inches across eastern and  central South Carolina into west central to far southeastern North Carolina and southwest Virginia.  This rainfall may produce life-threatening flash flooding.

WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area in the next couple of hours.

For more information, please visit the National Hurricane Center website. 

​Property owners and managers with rental guests should forward this information to their rental guests.