<img src="https://healthylife7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/tggauvxlq3zequl4.jpg" alt="Tropical Storm Bertha is crawling along the northern Gulf as coastal communities in parts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana brace for strong wind gusts, heavy rain and storm surge flooding.”>05:34
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens, threatens Gulf Coast with squalls, heavy rain and storm surge
Tropical Storm Bertha is crawling along the northern Gulf as coastal communities in parts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana brace for strong wind gusts, heavy rain and storm surge flooding
Tropical Storm Bertha is crawling along the northern Gulf as coastal communities in parts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana brace for strong wind gusts, heavy rain and storm surge flooding
Bertha formed Monday in the northeastern Gulf, becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season
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According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Bertha has begun to strengthen. As of Tuesday morning, it remained about 100 miles south of the eastern Florida Panhandle, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, and is moving northwest at just 2 mph
Bertha strengthened from Tropical Depression Two and is expected to bring days of heavy rain to parts of the Gulf Coast
WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM?
A tropical storm is a type of tropical cyclone — a rotating, organized system of thunderstorms — with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, making it stronger than a tropical depression
Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Jefferson-Plaquemines parish border in Louisiana, indicating that these areas could experience tropical storm conditions over the next 36 hours
WHAT HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS MEAN
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from the Bay-Gulf county line in Florida westward to the Florida-Alabama border, as well as from the Jefferson-Plaquemines parish border to Morgan City, Louisiana
This includes New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
Additionally, the NHC warned that the storm surge along the immediate coast in this area could reach 1 to 3 feet
WHAT IS STORM SURGE?
A Storm Surge Watch covers from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, meaning that there is the possibility of life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet is possible for this area
In preparation for Tropical Storm Bertha, Chevron said they are suspending some operations, including shutting-in production at their Petronius facility, and all associated employees are being moved onshore, according to the company
“We are also transporting nonessential personnel from our Tubular Bells and Blind Faith platforms. At our onshore facilities, we are following our storm preparedness procedures and paying close attention to the forecast and track of the system,” Chevron said in a statement to FOX Weather Monday
Where is Tropical Storm Bertha headed?
According to the NHC, Bertha is currently forecast to move slowly northwest along the northern Gulf Coast over the next several days
The FOX Forecast Center said Bertha is a lopsided storm that will peak as a moderate tropical storm, remaining well below hurricane strength
“Its lopsided nature means most of the rain will fall on the southern side of the system — well off the coast,” the Forecast Center said
While there was some uncertainty about Bertha’s forecast track earlier this week, forecast models have come into much better agreement that the storm will drift toward the northern Gulf Coast
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Exactly where the storm’s center will make landfall remains something of an open question. The current track takes Bertha’s center into southeast Louisiana sometime Wednesday, but a landfall closer to the Alabama Gulf Coast is possible as well
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Meanwhile, forecast models are much more confident that this system will bring periods of heavy rain to the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend as it passes by
Rain totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected through the middle of the week, with isolated higher amounts possible.Â
This story is developing. Check back for updates
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