Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday evening, July 20, after NOAA Hurricane Hunters found that the system had strengthened, the National Hurricane Center said.
As of 7 p.m. CDT, Bertha was about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and higher gusts. The storm was moving west-northwest at 3 mph, and forecasters said it would move near or along the northern Gulf Coast over the next several days.
What changed
The upgrade means tropical-storm conditions are possible within the watch area in the next 24 to 48 hours. The NHC listed a tropical storm watch from the Ochlockonee River in Florida westward to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana.
A storm surge watch is also in effect from the Alabama/Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River. The NHC said additional watches or warnings may be needed Monday night or Tuesday.
Hazards to check first
The biggest risks are not limited to the center line on the cone. The NHC said storm surge could reach 2 to 4 feet from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida border if peak surge arrives at high tide.
Bertha is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated higher totals near 8 inches, along the Gulf Coast and nearby inland areas from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast through Friday. That rain could cause flash flooding, especially in urban areas. Swells are also expected to spread west and create life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions.
What happens next
The next complete NHC advisory is scheduled for 10 p.m. CDT Monday. People in the watch area should use local National Weather Service products for county-level wind, surge, rainfall and evacuation guidance, because impacts can change quickly over short distances.
