Tropical Storm Bertha raked Bermuda with high winds on Monday

HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) – Tropical Storm Bertha raked Bermuda with high winds on Monday while kicking up choppy surf along the U.S. East Coast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of the Atlantic island Monday morning, with sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and higher gusts.

JetBlue Airways canceled Monday flights from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, while American Airlines passengers scheduled to travel to Miami, Florida, and New York were flown out Sunday.

Bertha was moving north near 7 mph (11 kph). It was expected to bring 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) of rain to Bermuda.

Sustained tropical storm-force winds of 55 mph (88 kph) were recently reported at Commissioner’s Point in Bermuda.

Over the weekend, most tourists avoided the storm-whipped surf and rip currents along Bermuda’s southern coast, and authorities began posting signs announcing beach closures. Residents taped up windows and secured boats.

The U.S. National Weather Service said Bertha created tricky waves and currents along U.S. East Coast, and officials said that may have contributed to at least one drowning death Saturday along a New Jersey beach.

Bertha became the Atlantic season’s first hurricane on July 7.

Meanwhile, Elida became the second hurricane of the Eastern Pacific region’s season, scattering rains across Mexico’s central coast.

But the storm, with winds of 80 mph (130 kph), was headed away from land. Elida was centered about 485 miles (785 kilometers) south of the tip of the Baja California peninsula, and it was moving west at near 14 mph (22 kph).