Tropical Storm Bertha is moving near the southeastern Bahamas.
Bertha was named at 11 p.m. Thursday. The storm is expected to stay away from the Florida coast as it eventually turns north out into the Atlantic Basin.
Tropical Storm Bertha Advisory
11 p.m. — Tropical Storm Bertha is 195 miles east of Eleuthera Island.
No Watches or Warnings in effect.
Discussion and 48-hour outlook
At 11 p.m. Sunday, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 24.9 north and longitude 73.2 west. Bertha is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph, and a gradual turn to the north-northwest, north and north-northeast is expected during the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, Bertha will begin moving away from the southeastern Bahamas today and pass to the east of the central Bahamas tonight.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to 65 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected today. Some strengthening is forecast to occur on Monday and Tuesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles, mainly to the northeast of the storm's center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1,012 mb, or 29.89 inches.
Hazards affecting land
Wind: Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next several hours.
Rainfall: Bertha is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with isolated amounts up to 5 inches across eastern portions of the Dominican Republic as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands through Monday.
Next Complete Update: 5 a.m.