SerpApi.Org
Tropical storm watches are in effect for parts of the Texas Gulf Coast as a weak Tropical Storm Bertha churns in the Gulf.
Tropical Storm Bertha has weakened to a 50-mph tropical storm as it sits just off the coast of Louisiana on Wednesday, July 22. It is expected to further weaken before impacting the Texas coastline as a weak tropical storm or depression.
“Maximum winds within Tropical Storm Bertha are down to 50 mph,” the Lake Charles NWS said. “Little if any further strengthening is anticipated as the system moves west toward southeast Louisiana. At this time, chances for rapid intensification are very low. Bertha is forecast to move west along the Louisiana coast Wednesday through Thursday. Land interaction and shear are expected to cause weakening as Bertha approaches south central Louisiana.”
While the storm may make landfall around the mouth of the Mississippi River later today in Louisiana, there is a good chance it will have a secondary landfall around the eastern Texas coastline as it continues to drag itself west. Landfall with the Texas coast will take place between 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 and 1 a.m. on Friday, July 24.
The main concern would be flooding and heavy rain, especially for a region that has been hit hard with flooding over the last month or so. Luckily, so far thunderstorms have been limited to the southern portion of the storm, with little activity over land as this system has progressed.
Right now, the quantitative precipitation forecast shows only 0.3 inches of rain for the Beaumont area from this system over the next 72 hours, and there is no excessive rainfall risk.
“Due to the unorganized structure of Tropical Storm Bertha, rainfall amounts will be limited. As a matter of fact, most locations will receive less than an inch of rain through Saturday,” the Lake Charles NWS said.
Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to dissipate by Friday morning in Texas.
