Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana with 45 mph winds

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall along the southeastern Louisiana coast Wednesday afternoon, bringing gusty winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain to portions of the northern Gulf Coast.

The center of Bertha crossed the coast near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish around 3 p.m. EDT, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts.

At landfall, Bertha was about 40 miles east of New Orleans and 45 miles southwest of Biloxi, Mississippi. It was moving west-northwest at 7 mph with a minimum central pressure of 1,000 millibars.

TRACK BERTHA: Interactive hurricane map

Forecasters expect Bertha to resume a more westward motion and pick up speed later Wednesday. The storm’s center is forecast to move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday before moving farther inland over Texas on Friday.

Bertha is expected to weaken during the next several days, although the National Hurricane Center said it could remain a tropical storm through late Thursday. Strong wind shear has pushed much of the storm’s thunderstorm activity away from its center, contributing to its gradual weakening.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from the Alabama-Florida state line to Morgan City, Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch extends west from Morgan City to Sargent, Texas, and includes Lake Maurepas.

The tropical storm warning for the Florida Panhandle was discontinued Wednesday afternoon. However, Bertha could still produce rainfall and dangerous marine conditions across parts of Northwest Florida.

The National Hurricane Center said Bertha could bring 1 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated totals reaching 6 inches, from Northwest Florida to southern Texas through Friday. Isolated flash flooding will be possible, particularly in urban areas.

The Weather Prediction Center said strong wind shear is expected to keep most of Bertha’s heaviest rain offshore, but isolated pockets of heavy rainfall and flash flooding could still occur along the Gulf Coast.

Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above normally dry ground is possible from the Alabama-Florida line to Port Bolivar, Texas, as well as around Lake Pontchartrain. The deepest water is expected along the immediate coastline, with flooding levels depending on the timing of the surge and high tide.

Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next several days, creating the potential for life-threatening surf and rip currents.