Photo: Hurricane Bertha's Burst of Strength Stumps Experts

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A satellite image shows Hurricane Bertha churning to the northwest across a remote section of the Atlantic Ocean on the morning of July 8, 2008. At the time, the storm had reached Category Three status, with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles (193 kilometers) an hour.

Experts are unable to explain why Bertha suddenly intensified over the course of about 12 hours, highlighting a need for more research into rapid hurricane intensification.

Image courtesy NOAA

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