000 WTNT32 KNHC 180833 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ADVISORY NUMBER 61 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022008 500 AM AST FRI JUL 18 2008 ...TENACIOUS BERTHA REFUSES TO WEAKEN... AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.7 WEST OR ABOUT 825 MILES...1325 KM...SOUTH OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND. BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT BERTHA SHOULD BECOME EXTRATROPICAL BY SUNDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 997 MB...29.44 INCHES. REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...34.8 N...53.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER AVILA