Tropical Storm Bertha (2020) facts for kids
| Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Bertha making landfall on the east coast of South Carolina while at peak intensity on May 27
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| Formed | May 27, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | May 28, 2020 |
| (Extratropical after May 28) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 50 mph (85 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1 total |
| Damage | > $130,000 (2020 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southeastern United States (especially Florida and South Carolina) |
| Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Bertha was a very unusual and short-lived storm. It formed and hit South Carolina on the same day, May 27, 2020. The storm then disappeared just one day later. What made Bertha so unique was how quickly it appeared and how close it formed to the coast.
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Tropical Storm Bertha: A Quick Look
Tropical Storm Bertha was a tropical cyclone that formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It was part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Even though it didn't last long, it still brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the southeastern United States.
How Bertha Formed and Moved
Bertha formed very close to the coast of South Carolina. This is quite unusual for a tropical storm. Most storms form over open ocean and travel a long way. Bertha quickly gained strength and became a tropical storm on May 27, 2020.
It moved quickly towards the coast. The storm made landfall in South Carolina on the very same day it formed. This rapid formation and landfall made it a storm that surprised many.
What Happened When Bertha Hit?
When Tropical Storm Bertha hit South Carolina, it brought strong winds. It also caused a lot of rain in the area. The storm's winds reached about 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour). Its lowest pressure was 1005 millibars.
The storm's path was short, but it still affected several states. Areas in the southeastern United States, especially Florida and South Carolina, felt its impact.
Impact and Aftermath
Even though Bertha was a short storm, it caused some damage. The total damage was estimated to be about $130,000. Sadly, one person died because of the storm.
One interesting event affected by Bertha was a space launch. Storm clouds from Bertha were seen at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These clouds caused a delay for the launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-2. This was a mission to send astronauts into space.
Bertha quickly weakened after moving inland. It changed into a non-tropical storm on May 28, 2020. This was just one day after it had formed.
Images for kids
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Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
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Storm clouds from Bertha at Kennedy Space Center, which disrupted the launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-2
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Tropical Storm Bertha at landfall near Charleston, South Carolina
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See also
In Spanish: Tormenta tropical Bertha (2020) para niños
