Highlights of Bertha for Hampton Roads and Northeast North Carolina:

• Bertha is now a tropical storm, accelerating northeast between the U.S. and Bermuda.
• High surf, rip current risk for parts of East Coast.
• Should be a post-tropical cyclone in 24 hours or less.

Bertha, the second hurricane of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, has been downgraded to a tropical storm between North Carolina's Outer Banks and Bermuda.

Be careful beach goers at the OBX and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. We are asking our boaters to use extreme caution. There are no watches or warnings for land, but tropical storm warnings are in effect over water for marine interests well off the East Coast of the U.S for Tropical Storm Bertha. Swells of 3 to 5 feet generated from Bertha may reach the coast from eastern North Carolina into the Eastern Shore.

If you or a member of your family has suffered a boating or personal watercraft accident, you need expert legal assistance to pursue a claim against the responsible party. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to consult a boating accident lawyer with experience in personal injury claims.