Tropical Storm Bertha was threatening the Gulf Coast on Tuesday with heavy rain as its projected path sparked watches and warnings alongside the coastal area.
Bertha is within the northeastern Gulf of Mexico with most sustained winds of 60 mph, up from 50 mph earlier within the day, in accordance with the Nationwide Hurricane Middle, which mentioned tropical storm situations had been starting to unfold over parts of the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday afternoon. The storm is predicted to influence the coasts of western Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana via Thursday.
Map exhibits projected path
Bertha’s power is not anticipated to vary a lot on Tuesday, and the system — which is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season — is forecast to steadily weaken because the week progresses. As of Tuesday night time, it was transferring west at about 6 mph.
“A west-northwestward or westward movement is predicted Wednesday via Friday,” the hurricane heart mentioned. ” On the forecast monitor, Bertha will transfer close to or alongside the northern Gulf Coast in the course of the subsequent couple of days.”
CBS Information 
Warnings and watches in impact
A tropical storm warning was in impact Tuesday from the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida to Morgan Metropolis, Louisiana, in addition to for New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
A tropical storm watch was posted for west of Morgan Metropolis to Cameron, Louisiana, and Lake Maurepas.
A storm surge watch that was in impact earlier for the northern Gulf Coast has been discontinued.
“Tropical storm situations are anticipated throughout the warning space alongside the northern Gulf coast by late at the moment into Wednesday,” the hurricane heart mentioned. “Tropical storm situations are potential throughout the watch space in Louisiana by Wednesday.”
Forecasters warned of rainfall as much as 6 inches in some areas. Rain was anticipated via Thursday alongside the central Gulf Coast, stretching from western Florida to southern Louisiana, and forecasters warned of potential flash flooding.
The system might additionally produce storm surge, elevating waters as much as 4 ft in some places alongside the coast.
Bertha comes weeks after the 2026 hurricane season’s first named storm, Tropical Storm Arthur, which made landfall in June alongside the Gulf Coast of Texas.
