Bertha bypasses Boston
Tropical Storm Bertha is forecast to pass roughly 250 miles (400 km) off the coast of New England today, but its effects will barely be noticeable here at the Institute. The second named tropical cyclone of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, Bertha briefly attained hurricane status on Monday. Prior to that, the storm impacted the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. However, the storm’s path has since shifted to the north and east, and it is expected to go out to sea without having any significant impact on the mainland United States.
As Bertha passes to our southeast, the only noticeable effect in the Boston area will be a slight shift in wind direction, with winds out of the northeast during the day on Wednesday.
However, the possibility of showers and thunderstorms will arise independently of the tropical storm as an upper-level disturbance passes over New England this afternoon and this evening.
A second disturbance will reach our region tomorrow, bringing another chance of showers and thunderstorms. High pressure moves into the area on Friday, kicking off a series of sunny days with sea breezes developing in the afternoon.