Tropical Storm Bertha formed on Monday, becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It poses a threat to the Gulf Coast with heavy rainfall.
The storm is situated south of the Florida Panhandle. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving west-northwest at about 3 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Storm Path and Forecast
A map of the storm, formerly known as Tropical Depression Two, indicates its projected path along the Gulf Coast. It will move west from the Panhandle, reaching New Orleans and eventually eastern Texas later this week. The system evolved into Tropical Storm Bertha on Monday.
The weather service reported a slow northwestward motion is expected through the night, followed by a west-northwest or westward shift. The storm is anticipated to move near or along the northern Gulf Coast over the next several days.
Watches and Warnings
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from the Ochlockonee River in Florida to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana. A Storm Surge Watch covers the Alabama/Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Forecasters are predicting rainfall up to 8 inches in some regions. Rain is expected throughout the week across the Gulf Coast and nearby inland areas, from western Florida to the Texas coast. Parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are likely to be affected, with potential for flash flooding.
The storm might also lead to storm surges, potentially raising waters by up to 4 feet in certain Gulf Coast locations.
Bertha follows Tropical Storm Arthur, which made landfall in June along the Texas Gulf Coast earlier in the 2026 hurricane season.
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