Tropics are stirring
Tropical Storm Bertha, now almost two weeks old, continues to wander the western Atlantic, zigging to the southeast just north and east of Bermuda and pestering the island and shipping, but not posing a direct threat to land. She's a bit stronger today, with top sustained winds of 70 mph.
Here's the latest advisory, and the forecast track. And here's the view from orbit.
In the meantime, hurricane forecasters are watching two other patches of the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical Atlantic that are producing wind and rain. The first is off the west coast of Florida. Folks there are looking at heavy rains for the next day or two, but the system, such as it is, is likely to move over land and is not likely to get organized.
Satellites are also tracking an area of stormy weather in the Atlantic just east of the Windward Islands. That one is getting better organized, although conditions aren't ideal for strong development. Air Force Reserve storm chasers are being sent in for a closer look this afternoon. In the meantime, the bad weather is expected to produce locally heavy rains and gusty winds in the islands in the coming days.
