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Hurricane Bertha (1990)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Bertha was a Category 1 tropical cyclone
that formed in late July and lasted though early August of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season
. The second named storm and first hurricane of the 1990 season, Bertha formed as a subtropical cyclone
on July 24 and moved southward where it gained tropical characteristics and became a tropical storm. Bertha fluctuated between hurricane and tropical storm status as it turned northeastward before brushing past Nova Scotia
as an extratropical storm on August 2.
Bertha caused moderate structural damage and six injuries in Nova Scotia
, the storm also caused minor beach erosion on the East Coast of the United States
. Offshore, the storm caused high waves that capsized a freighter, drowning nine crewmen. Bertha also caused two indirect fatalities due to drowning incidents off the Florida
coast.
moved eastward through the United States
in the middle part of July, and reached the east coast
by July 23. On July 24, an area of low pressure
developed just southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina ahead of the frontal zone, and quickly formed into a subtropical depression
. In association with a nearby upper-level low, the depression tracked quickly southeastward before turning to the southwest. The subtropical depression gradually organized, and satellite classifications
began subsequent to merging with a tropical wave
on July 25. Convection
developed closer to the center of circulation as it gradually decelerated while continuing southwestward, and on July 27 the system organized into Tropical Depression Three while located about 335 miles (539.1 km) east of Daytona Beach, Florida
.
Upon transitioning into a tropical cyclone, the depression executed an elongated counter-clockwise loop to the northeast. Conditions favored further intensification, and it is estimated the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha early on July 28, based on a nearby ship report. Bertha quickly strengthened to attain hurricane status early on July 29 about halfway between Cape Canaveral, Florida
and Bermuda
. The strengthening trend was short lived, however, as increased vertical wind shear
weakened it back to a tropical storm late on July 29, with the center exposed from the deep convection. Bertha continued slowly northeastward to ridging from the Bermuda high
extending westward to the United States
.
Operationally, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center
speculated whether Bertha was transitioning into a subtropical cyclone
, due to its deep convection being located, at times, over 200 miles (321.8 km) from the center. However, the convection progressively returned to the center, and by late on July 30 Bertha re-intensified into a hurricane as the convection covered the center, about 415 miles (667.8 km) east of where it first formed. Early on July 31 the hurricane briefly attained peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) before weakening, and accelerated northeastward as the ridge of high pressure was slowly eroded. Bertha maintained hurricane status as it approached Atlantic Canada
, and briefly reached winds of 80 mph (129 km/h) before weakening and making landfall near Sydney, Nova Scotia
on August 1 as a 70 mph (113 km/h) tropical storm. The storm was transitioning into an extratropical cyclone
while approaching Atlantic Canada, and lost all tropical characteristics shortly after moving ashore. The weakening extratropical remnants of Bertha turned northward into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
and lost its identity shortly thereafter.
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The formation of Bertha in close proximity of the East Coast of the United States
prompted residents to stock up on emergency supplies and monitor the storm. The Canadian Hurricane Centre
(then called the Maritimes Weather Center) and National Hurricane Center
began to issue warnings for Nova Scotia
and most of Atlantic Canada
on July 31 and August 1. On August 2, all warnings and advisories for Atlantic Canada
were dropped as Bertha dissipated.
Bertha's broad circulation produced high waves which were reported along the southeastern coast of the United States
, in North Carolina
, the storm produced waves of 25–50 feet (7.6-15.2 meters). The waves caused minor beach erosion along the North Carolina
coastline including the Outer Banks
. In Florida
, rip currents from Bertha caused two drowning fatalities. 200 other swimmers were rescued from the rough seas.
Offshore, several ships came in contact with Bertha, many reported sustained winds of 35-58 mph (56–93 km/h) and a Canadian ship reported a barometric pressure of 985 millibars (29.1 inHg). The only reported shipwreck caused by Bertha was when the Corazon, a Greek freighter capsized and sank during the storm. The ship, which was off the coast of Cape Cod
at the time of its sinking, was experiencing strong winds up to 78 mph (126 km/h) and 30 feet (9.1 m) waves. The rough seas caused the ships keel to break, causing the crewmen to send a distress signal and evacuate the sinking vessel. During the evacuation, one crewman drowned when trying to board a lifeboat, his body was later found by a Soviet merchant ship. Another merchant ship, the Vyapel spotted twelve of the 27 sailors in their liferaft and the crew of the Vyapel tried to rescue the sailors but to no avail as the rough seas caused the liferaft to drift near the ships propeller and rudder area. The turbulence caused by the ships propeller knocked seven sailors into the water, five of them drowned and a search for their bodies continued until the following day. The remaining 21 sailors were later rescued by crews of other freighters and merchant ships. An investigation by the United States Coast Guard
revealed that the Corazans own lifeboats were in poor condition to use in case of an emergency.
Initially, the National Hurricane Center noted the possibility of Bertha impacting Bermuda
. However, the storm bypassed Bermuda, which caused only minor affects on the island; limited to rough seas and wind gusts reaching 45 mph (72 km/h).
In Atlantic Canada
, Bertha brought strong tropical storm force winds and heavy rainfall. Two weather stations in Braddeck, Nova Scotia
and Hunters Mountain recorded 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rainfall. In Prince Edward Island
, the storm produced a wind gust of 71 mph (115 km/h) and 4.72 inches (101.6 mm) of rain. A weather station in Port-aux-Basques
reported a wind gust of 63 mph (102 km/h) and 2.51 inches (50 mm) of rain. The high winds brought by Bertha caused moderate damage to tobacco and corn crops in Prince Edward Island
and damaged a suspension bridge in Nova Scotia
. Heavy rainfall from Bertha caused minimal flooding at a golf course. In Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
, six people were injured when waves from Bertha washed them into the sea. Damage was estimated at $4.427 million (1990 CAD
, $3.912 million 1990 USD).
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
that formed in late July and lasted though early August of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season
1990 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1990 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season since 1969. It officially began on June 1, 1990, and lasted until November 30, 1990. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. The second named storm and first hurricane of the 1990 season, Bertha formed as a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
on July 24 and moved southward where it gained tropical characteristics and became a tropical storm. Bertha fluctuated between hurricane and tropical storm status as it turned northeastward before brushing past Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
as an extratropical storm on August 2.
Bertha caused moderate structural damage and six injuries in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, the storm also caused minor beach erosion on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. Offshore, the storm caused high waves that capsized a freighter, drowning nine crewmen. Bertha also caused two indirect fatalities due to drowning incidents off the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast.
Meteorological history
A cold frontSurface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
moved eastward through the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the middle part of July, and reached the east coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
by July 23. On July 24, an area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
developed just southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina ahead of the frontal zone, and quickly formed into a subtropical depression
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
. In association with a nearby upper-level low, the depression tracked quickly southeastward before turning to the southwest. The subtropical depression gradually organized, and satellite classifications
Dvorak technique
The Dvorak technique is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak intensity numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity...
began subsequent to merging with a tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
on July 25. Convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
developed closer to the center of circulation as it gradually decelerated while continuing southwestward, and on July 27 the system organized into Tropical Depression Three while located about 335 miles (539.1 km) east of Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
.
Upon transitioning into a tropical cyclone, the depression executed an elongated counter-clockwise loop to the northeast. Conditions favored further intensification, and it is estimated the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha early on July 28, based on a nearby ship report. Bertha quickly strengthened to attain hurricane status early on July 29 about halfway between Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147...
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. The strengthening trend was short lived, however, as increased vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
weakened it back to a tropical storm late on July 29, with the center exposed from the deep convection. Bertha continued slowly northeastward to ridging from the Bermuda high
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
extending westward to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Operationally, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
speculated whether Bertha was transitioning into a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
, due to its deep convection being located, at times, over 200 miles (321.8 km) from the center. However, the convection progressively returned to the center, and by late on July 30 Bertha re-intensified into a hurricane as the convection covered the center, about 415 miles (667.8 km) east of where it first formed. Early on July 31 the hurricane briefly attained peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) before weakening, and accelerated northeastward as the ridge of high pressure was slowly eroded. Bertha maintained hurricane status as it approached Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, and briefly reached winds of 80 mph (129 km/h) before weakening and making landfall near Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
on August 1 as a 70 mph (113 km/h) tropical storm. The storm was transitioning into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
while approaching Atlantic Canada, and lost all tropical characteristics shortly after moving ashore. The weakening extratropical remnants of Bertha turned northward into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
and lost its identity shortly thereafter.
Preparations and Impact
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
prompted residents to stock up on emergency supplies and monitor the storm. The Canadian Hurricane Centre
Canadian Hurricane Centre
The Canadian Hurricane Centre is a division of the Meteorological Service of Canada, an agency of Canada's Department of the Environment, which exists to advise Canadians on the threat of tropical cyclones such as hurricanes and tropical storms...
(then called the Maritimes Weather Center) and National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
began to issue warnings for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and most of Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
on July 31 and August 1. On August 2, all warnings and advisories for Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
were dropped as Bertha dissipated.
Bertha's broad circulation produced high waves which were reported along the southeastern coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, the storm produced waves of 25–50 feet (7.6-15.2 meters). The waves caused minor beach erosion along the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
coastline including the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
. In Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, rip currents from Bertha caused two drowning fatalities. 200 other swimmers were rescued from the rough seas.
Offshore, several ships came in contact with Bertha, many reported sustained winds of 35-58 mph (56–93 km/h) and a Canadian ship reported a barometric pressure of 985 millibars (29.1 inHg). The only reported shipwreck caused by Bertha was when the Corazon, a Greek freighter capsized and sank during the storm. The ship, which was off the coast of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
at the time of its sinking, was experiencing strong winds up to 78 mph (126 km/h) and 30 feet (9.1 m) waves. The rough seas caused the ships keel to break, causing the crewmen to send a distress signal and evacuate the sinking vessel. During the evacuation, one crewman drowned when trying to board a lifeboat, his body was later found by a Soviet merchant ship. Another merchant ship, the Vyapel spotted twelve of the 27 sailors in their liferaft and the crew of the Vyapel tried to rescue the sailors but to no avail as the rough seas caused the liferaft to drift near the ships propeller and rudder area. The turbulence caused by the ships propeller knocked seven sailors into the water, five of them drowned and a search for their bodies continued until the following day. The remaining 21 sailors were later rescued by crews of other freighters and merchant ships. An investigation by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
revealed that the Corazans own lifeboats were in poor condition to use in case of an emergency.
Initially, the National Hurricane Center noted the possibility of Bertha impacting Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. However, the storm bypassed Bermuda, which caused only minor affects on the island; limited to rough seas and wind gusts reaching 45 mph (72 km/h).
In Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, Bertha brought strong tropical storm force winds and heavy rainfall. Two weather stations in Braddeck, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and Hunters Mountain recorded 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rainfall. In Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, the storm produced a wind gust of 71 mph (115 km/h) and 4.72 inches (101.6 mm) of rain. A weather station in Port-aux-Basques
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
reported a wind gust of 63 mph (102 km/h) and 2.51 inches (50 mm) of rain. The high winds brought by Bertha caused moderate damage to tobacco and corn crops in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and damaged a suspension bridge in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Heavy rainfall from Bertha caused minimal flooding at a golf course. In Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
Peggys Cove is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Nova Scotia and is a prime attraction on the Lighthouse Trail scenic drive. The community's famous lighthouse marks the eastern entrance of St. Margarets Bay and is officially known as the Peggys Point Lighthouse.Peggys Cove has a classic...
, six people were injured when waves from Bertha washed them into the sea. Damage was estimated at $4.427 million (1990 CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
, $3.912 million 1990 USD).
See also
- Other storms of the same nameHurricane Bertha (disambiguation)The name Bertha has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean.* 1957's Tropical Storm Bertha: A moderate Tropical Storm that threatened areas devastated by Hurricane Audrey two months earlier, but did not become a hurricane and caused only minor damage.* 1984's Tropical Storm...