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Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, just after 3 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a recent update.
At the point it made landfall, the storm’s maximum sustained wind speeds were at 45 mph with higher gusts. It hit Louisiana near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area.
Tracking maps show the position of Tropical Storm Bertha as forecasters warn the system could bring coastal flooding, flash flooding and dangerous surf conditions to parts of the northern Gulf Coast this week. The system intensified Monday night after data collected by Hurricane Hunter aircraft confirmed that Tropical Depression Two had strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha, becoming the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Where Is Bertha Now?
However, in an NHC update posted late Wednesday morning, NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said the storm had begun to weaken. Weakening was expected to continue, Rhome said.
In an update early Wednesday, the NHC said Bertha was continuing westward, with tropical storm conditions expected to persist along the northern Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening in southeastern Louisiana.
“Bertha is moving toward the west near 5 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday with a little acceleration,” the update said. “On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days.”
Strong Winds, Possible Tropical Storm Conditions Developing
The agency reported maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, with higher gusts. It said gradual weakening of the system is forecast to continue in the coming days.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to expand westward along parts of the northern Gulf Coast, from the Florida Panhandle to southeastern Louisiana, including the New Orleans metropolitan area, through Wednesday night, the NHC said.
It also said tropical storm conditions could develop along portions of Louisiana’s southwestern coast Wednesday night into Thursday.
A coastal flood warning is in force for Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, with moderate coastal flooding expected, the NHC said.
According to the NHC, those in far western Louisiana and along the upper Texas coast should continue to monitor the system, as additional watches or warnings may become necessary for parts of those areas.
It also warned that “isolated areas of flash flooding” are possible through early Friday along the Gulf Coast, from western Florida into southern Texas.
Flooding and Coastal Impacts
The NHC said a storm surge combined with the tide could cause flooding in normally dry areas near the coast as water moves inland.
If the peak surge coincides with high tide, water levels could reach two to four feet above ground from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Mississippi/Alabama border, and one to three feet from Cameron, Louisiana, to the river’s mouth, from the Mississippi/Alabama border to Florida’s Okaloosa/Walton County line, and around Lake Pontchartrain.
Forecasters said Bertha could produce widespread rainfall totals of one to four inches, with isolated accumulations reaching six inches, across portions of the central and western Gulf Coast through Thursday, warning that the heavy rain may lead to localized flash flooding, particularly in urban areas.
“Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days,” it added. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
Perhaps some of the biggest flood threats from Tropical Storm Bertha will be states away from where the storm makes landfall. WFLA-TV chief meteorologist Jeff Berardelli warned that states in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. will get hit hard by indirect impacts from the storm.
“Ironically one of the biggest impacts from #Bertha may be in the Mid-Atlantic/ Carolinas and Virginia! Strange right? Well not really, here’s why,” Berardelli posted on X. “A strong front that produced severe weather in NYC yesterday is dropping south, catching some of Bertha’s moisture in a Tropical plume. That front will slow/ stall for a couple of days with waves of tropical downpours, severe storms and potential flooding as 4-6” of rain (maybe more in spots) will fall between now and the weekend.”
A map included within Berardelli’s post showed much of North Carolina could see up to 6 inches of rain, with South Carolina getting hit with 2 to 3 inches.
The heavy rain impacts will begin later this week and continue into the weekend for these states.
Areas Under Watches and Warnings
According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Warnings, which signal that tropical storm conditions are expected along the warning areas within 36 hours, are in effect for:
- Okaloosa/Walton County Line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana
- Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain
The agency also said that Tropical Storm Watches, in this case meaning tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area within the next 24-48 hours, are in place for:
- West of Morgan City, Louisiana, to Cameron, Louisiana
- Lake Maurepas
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick, Edward Pearcey, Sam Wilson, Gray R. Thomas
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