Tropical Storm Bertha Makes Landfall, Bringing Heavy Rain To South Carolina And Inland

A tropical storm that could unleash heavy rainfall and produce life-threatening flash flooding made landfall along the South Carolina coast on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Tropical Storm Bertha, which packed maximum sustained winds of 50 miles (80 km) per hour, is located about 20 miles (30 km) east of Charleston, South Carolina, the Miami-based forecaster said.

Bertha was expected to move inland toward North Carolina and southwest Virginia as it weakens to a tropical depression.

“The good news is that it is just 30 miles offshore and is going to move inland during the next few hours, so this is not going to get any stronger,” said Dennis Feltgen, a communications officer and meteorologist at the NHC.