Ask the Meteorologist: How does current storm in the Gulf differ from Bertha of 1996?

Tropical Depression Two is currently swirling in the northern Gulf, and it is likely to become Tropical Storm Bertha at some point Monday.

Long-time North Carolinians may remember Bertha of 1996. You might be asking, "How do we get a storm with the same name?"

Storm names are selected by the World Meteorological Organization and picked on a six-year cycle. So, the name Bertha will show up again in 2032. 

Names get retired when a storm is especially damaging or deadly (see Helene, Michael, Florence, Katrina, etc.). 

Bertha of 1996 was a memorable storm for North Carolina, only to be overshadowed by Hurricane Fran months later. 

The storm started as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa before traveling across the Atlantic. At its peak, it was a Category 3 storm. Once it made landfall in North Carolina, it was a Category 2 hurricane. 

The highest rain totals in the state was in Southport, and a 108-mph wind gust was recorded at the New River Marine Corps station. Estimated damage ranges between $270 million and $400 million, while also claiming the lives of a dozen people. 

Locally, the storm produced some fairly high rain totals. That was especially the case in areas closer to I-95, thanks to the storms direct track through the eastern half of the state. 

Simply put, the storm that will likely become Bertha is not a direct hit on North Carolina. I'll post its path again. 

This is a homegrown storm, in the sense that low pressure has developed off the Gulf Coast of Florida. There is nothing to grab it and pull it north. Rather, high pressure directly north of the storm will force it to retrograde (move east to west) in the coming days. 

This will bring the potential for flooding rain to the Gulf states, while supplying us with distant moisture. 

That will meet with a stalled front and will lead to an increase in storm chances this week.