The practice of giving hurricanes names has several advantages: not least, it allows the public to track their progress. But when we heard about Hurricane Bertha – a name rather out of fashion nowadays – we could perhaps be forgiven for not taking it as seriously as we should have done.
Bertha started life in early August 2014, not as a full-blown hurricane, but as a tropical wave. It then became stronger, earning it a promotion to the category of tropical storm, before slowing down as it passed across the Caribbean and so being downgraded back to its earlier status. But on 4 August, its winds strengthened to 130km/h (80mph), making it officially a hurricane.
Bertha’s new-found status did not last long. As it headed north along the eastern seaboard of the US, it weakened; but then began to race across the Atlantic towards the UK. It finally reached British shores on 10 August, accompanied by Met Office weather warnings.
What made ex-Hurricane Bertha unusual was that it occurred so early in the season – when we expect to be basking in summer holiday sunshine. Fortunately, it did not cause too much damage, though cross-channel ferries and trains were disrupted, trees were blown over and various sporting events had to be cancelled.
