Tropical Storm Tropical Storm Bertha just off the South Carolina Coast

[South AL Wx]

This will be a very short lived tropical storm that will move inland soon, but we officially have our 2nd preseason tropical storm for 2020:

...TROPICAL STORM BERTHA FORMS NEAR THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED...


SUMMARY OF 830 AM EDT...1230 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...32.7N 79.4W
ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM ESE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 320 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1009 MB...29.80 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of South
Carolina from Edisto Beach to South Santee River.

 

[MattW]

Where the heck did this come from?

 

[South AL Wx]

Where the heck did this come from?

NHC had been watching the area for the past couple of days when it was over Florida, but it really wasn't expected to develop due to proximity to land and strong upper-level winds. But it got its act together this morning.

 

[South AL Wx]

Looks like it was named a tropical storm at 8:30 am EDT and made landfall around 9:30 am EDT. Wonder if that is a record for the shortest duration between formation and landfall?:

Tropical Storm Bertha Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL022020
930 AM EDT Wed May 27 2020


...BERTHA MAKES LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST...

Coastal radar data indicates that the center of Tropical
Storm Bertha has made landfall along the coast of South Carolina
east of Charleston. Recent data from NOAA and CORMP buoys show that
maximum sustained winds increased to near 50 mph (80 km/h) before
landfall.