SerpApi.Org
July 21 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Bertha picked up speed just off the coast of the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday as it made its way west, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm, which isn't expected to become a hurricane before fizzling out, formed Monday night.
The epicenter of the storm was located about 105 miles west-southwest of Panama City, Fla., and 105 miles south-southeast of Mobile, Ala., the NHC said in its 4 p.m. CDT update. The storm was traveling northwest at 6 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Winds must reach at least 74 mph for a storm to be considered a hurricane.
There was a tropical storm warning in effect from the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida west to Morgan City, La., metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch was in place from Morgan City, La., west to Cameron, La., and Lake Maurepas.
"On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days or so," the NHC said in its update.
Bertha is expected to maintain tropical storm status through Thursday afternoon, possibly making landfall on the New Orleans area midday Wednesday. It's forecast to weaken to a tropical depression Thursday evening as it makes landfall in Texas.
