&sq=&lang=&file=File:Bertha_2020-05-27_1600Z.jpg) Bertha making landfall on the east coast of South Carolina while at peak intensity on May 27 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 27, 2020 |
| Extratropical | May 28, 2020 |
| Dissipated | May 28, 2020 |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 50 mph (85 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 total |
| Damage | $130,000 (2020 USD) |
| Areas affected | Eastern United States (especially Florida and South Carolina) |
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Bertha was a rapidly forming and short-lived off-season tropical storm that affected the Eastern United States in late May 2020. The second named storm of the very active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Bertha originated from a trough in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) only anticipated slight development as the trough moved over southern Florida, bringing torrential rainfall. The system rapidly organized on May 27 after it emerged into the western Atlantic Ocean, developing a small, well-defined circulation. That day, the disturbance developed into Tropical Storm Bertha east of Georgia, and a few hours later it moved ashore near Isle of Palms, South Carolina with peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). The storm weakened over land and dissipated late on May 28 over West Virginia.
The storm and its precursor disturbance caused heavy rainfall and flash flooding in southern Florida, as well as spawning a brief tornado. In South Carolina, Bertha produced above normal tides and locally heavy rainfall, causing minor flooding. As the storm moved into North Carolina, its remnants produced a brief tornado, while rip currents resulted in several water rescues in Surf City. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, Bertha caused $130,000 (2020 USD) in damage.