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Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana at 3 p.m. on July 22, per the National Hurricane Center.
Florida residents were still feeling some impacts from Bertha as it wandered slowly in the Gulf.
Elsewhere in the tropics, all is quiet. As of 2 p.m. July 22, the National Hurricane Center was tracking Bertha and keeping an eye on two tropical waves in the Atlantic.
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Wind shear is keeping Bertha from strengthening but impacts were expected across not only Florida but along the northern Gulf coast to Louisiana, where the storm made landfall.
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Here's what you should know about what's happening in the tropics.
When is hurricane season in Florida?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
➤ Hurricane Center testing new cone: What's changing this season?
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
Countdown clock to end of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
Tropical Storm Bertha updates from National Hurricane Center
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm could travel outside the cone. In 2026, the Hurricane Center is experimenting with a new cone to include 90% of forecast track possibilities instead of the previous 67% forecast error.
Storm tracker. See spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Bertha
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Bertha
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Tropical Storm Bertha continues to impact Florida
Gusty winds, up to tropical-storm-force strength, were impacting Florida July 22, mostly confined to coastal western Panhandle locations, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
There's a high risk of life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf through July 23, the National Weather Service Mobile said.
➤ Live updates: Multiple states feel Tropical Storm Bertha impacts
"Based on the current track, potential impacts from tropical-storm-force winds and locally heavy rain will be limited to coastal areas and offshore."
"Gusty winds are still in the forecast along the coast through the morning and into the afternoon before slowly calming down this evening," the National Weather Service Tallahassee posted on X.
➤ Is Tropical Storm Bertha done with Florida?
"Occasional gusts to 40 mph are possible, especially in the passing tropical downpours we'll have moving through the area today (July 22).
"Dangerous beach conditions persist for a few more days. High surf of 4 to 9 feet are forecast along the Emerald Coast through Thursday afternoon with a high risk of rip currents at our area beaches through Friday," according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
The western coast of Florida also can expect to see gusty winds associated with Bertha through July 22, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay.
Expect Tropical Storm Bertha to leave Florida behind July 23, leaving a comparatively tranquil pattern in its wake, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
National Hurricane Center tracking 2 tropical waves
The National Hurricane Center is watching two tropical waves in the Atlantic basin, as of 8 a.m. July 22:
- A far eastern Atlantic tropical wave is west of the Cabo Verde Islands with its axis along 33W from 09N to 19W, moving westward around 23 mph.
- A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 55W from 08N to 24N moving westward near 17 mph.
What is a tropical wave?
"Tropical waves are clusters of showers and thunderstorms that act as the seedlings for many tropical storms throughout the Atlantic season," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, via email.
“There are about 60 tropical waves that move across the Atlantic each year, and roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of them develop into a tropical system. That’s about one in seven.
"Tropical waves are important because they contribute to about 80 percent of all major hurricanes."
A major hurricane is a storm that is a Category 3 or stronger, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
How many tropical storms, hurricanes are in a typical season?
The 30-year average, from 1991 to 2020, is for 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Florida weather radar for July 22, 2026
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
What are names for 2026 Atlantic hurricane season?
Here are the names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and how to pronounce them:
- Arthur: Tropical Storm Arthur formed June 17, 2026.
- Bertha: Tropical Storm Bertha formed July 20, 2026
- Cristobal, krees-TOH-bahl
- Dolly, DAH-lee
- Edouard, eh-DWARD
- Fay, fay
- Gonzalo, gohn-SAH-loh
- Hanna, HAN-uh
- Isaias, ees-ah-EE-ahs
- Josephine, JOH-seh-feen
- Kyle, KY-ull
- Leah, LEE-ah
- Marco, MAR-koe
- Nana, NA-na
- Omar, OH-mar
- Paulette, pawl-LET
- Rene, re-NAY
- Sally, SAL-ee
- Teddy, TEHD-ee
- Vicky, VIH-kee
- Wilfred, WILL-fred
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What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage to bring you the most current information you need to protect your home and family.
This story has been updated with new information.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Forecasters keeping eye on Tropical Storm Bertha, 2 tropical waves
