SerpApi.Org
July 23 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Bertha was nearing the southern coast of Louisiana early Thursday, and was expected to make landfall along the northwestern Gulf Coast later in the day, according to forecasters.
The center of the storm was about 95 miles southeast of Lake Charles, La., and about 145 miles west-southwest of New Orleans, the National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. CDT update. The storm was traveling west at 13 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
There was a tropical storm warning in effect for the Gulf Coast from the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line, Louisiana to Sargent, Texas.
The NHC said Bertha is expected to move westward or west-northwestward through Thursday night, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest on Friday.
"On the forecast track, the center of Bertha will move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through this afternoon, and then move farther inland into Texas this evening and and tonight," the NHC said.
Little change in strength in the storm is expected over the next day or so. Bertha is expected to maintain tropical storm intensity until it makes landfall, after which weakening is expected. The system is expected to dissipate in 36 to 48 hours.
Bertha, which formed Monday night, is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals through Thursday night along the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas. This could produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas, the NHC said.
Surf conditions caused by Bertha will continue spreading west along the northern Gulf Coast, with swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions
