Bertha becomes 1st hurricane of Atlantic season

[July 07, 2008]  MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical storm Bertha has strengthened to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.

As of 5 a.m. EDT Monday, Hurricane Bertha was about 845 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say it is too early to say if or where the storm will hit land.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to speeds of 75 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next couple of days.

Bertha is headed west-northwest at about 17 mph.

The first named storm this year, Arthur, formed in the Atlantic the day before the season officially started June 1 and soaked the Yucatan Peninsula.

[Associated Press]

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