A tropical storm named Bertha strengthens Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico, and threatens several states in the southern United States, with powerful winds and coastal flooding.
The storm was located about 70 miles (115 kilometers) southwest of Panama City, Florida, on Tuesday morning and is slowly moving northwest and onshore with sustained winds of up to 60 miles (97 kilometers) per hour, the US Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Several U.S. coastal areas have been placed under a tropical storm watch or warning, with strong winds, heavy rain and possible coastal flooding expected “along the northern Gulf Coast by the end of the day and into Wednesday,” according to the NHC.
American meteorologists predict that the Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches from early June to late November, will be “less intense than normal” this year.
An average season has 14 storms large enough to be named and seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
