Hurricane season is now in full-blown force, as Tropical Storm Bertha was upgraded to hurricane status on Tuesday morning.

Bertha is the first hurricane of the 2008 season, which several meteorologists have predicted to have above-average storm activity.

According to a report by Guy Carpenter and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Bertha is located approximately 845 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and packs sustained winds of around 75 mph. The storm is traveling in a west-northwest direction, and this motion is expected to continue over the next 24 to 48 hours. The NHC said hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles from the center of the storm, while tropical storm-force winds extend 115 miles.

Bertha is forecast to maintain its Category 1 status over the next few days while staying out at sea and taking a general west-northwest route. The long term forecast suggests Bertha could take a more northerly route towards Bermuda by the end of the week, but the path of the storm is uncertain and the NHC said it is still too early to determine if Bertha will threaten land.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the 2008 season, following Tropical Storm Arthur, which poured heavy rains on Central America.

The Atlantic-Caribbean hurricane season spans from June 1 to the end of November, with August and September usually being the stormiest months.For Guy Carpenter's full report, click here [PDF].

Special Reports /

Bertha Becomes First Hurricane of 2008

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