Tropical Storm Bertha set history from the start when it became the eastern-most tropical cyclone to develop in July.  The storm, which developed on July 3, 2008, has now become the longest living July storm on record. 

Bertha, the second named storm of the 2008 season, reached category 3 status, making it the first major hurricane of the season.  The storm has survived mostly due to it's land-free track over the Atlantic ocean, being fed with the constant warm water temperatures needed to sustain tropical systems.