Bertha Reaches Hurricane Status on Her March Up Atlantic

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Tropical Storm Bertha became 2014's second hurricane on Monday as the low-pressure system strengthened with 75 mph sustained winds.

Forecasters predict a track that will take Bertha over the open water of the Atlantic Ocean hundreds of miles from Ocean City. The storm won't bring wind, rain or clouds to Ocean City, but it likely will send waves — starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing through Wednesday.

'We won’t get bombing surf from her, just fun surf," Ocean City's Heritage Surf Shop reports in its surf forecast. Most surf forecasts call for clean 3- to 4-foot waves on Tuesday afternoon, and 4- to 5-foot waves on Wednesday. The hurricane was off the coast of Georgia on Monday night. It is expected to lose strength and hurricane status as it moves north, clearing the Outer Banks on Tuesday and passing Ocean City on Wednesday.

Light offshore winds are predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday — which creates ideal conditions for clean surf. High tide will be late afternoon on the ocean beaches.

The increased surf would increase the risk of undertows and rip currents for swimmers, who are always asked to swim only at beaches protected by the Ocean City Beach Patrol and never after the OCBP goes off duty.

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