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“Minor to moderate impacts are expected” on the Mississippi Coast as Tropical Storm Bertha moves westward through the Gulf on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service office in New Orleans.
The NHC, in its 7 a.m. update Wednesday, said that Bertha’s maximum sustained winds are 50 mph. The storm sits about 60 miles south of Pascagoula, and is moving west at 5 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center, a decrease since late Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center says Bertha’s general motion is expected to continue through Friday with a little acceleration. On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days.
Continued weakening is forecast, as Bertha’s appearance, the presence of northeasterly vertical wind shear, and land interaction are likely to result in slow weakening over the next 24 hours or so, according to the NHC.
Closures
Cedar Lake Bridge: The Cedar Lake Bridge in Biloxi was closed at 4:30 a.m. because of high water, the city of Biloxi says.
Watches and warnings on the Coast
Watches and warnings remain for parts of the Mississippi Coast.
Tropical storm warning: This watch stretches from Okaloosa-Walton County Line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana. It also covers metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. In Mississippi, the southern parts of Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties are under the warning.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Tropical storm watch: In Mississippi, this watch covers the central and northern parts of Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Storm surge watch: This watch covers from the Alabama-Florida Border to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Hazards
Wind: Tropical storm conditions will continue spreading across portions of the northern Gulf Coast within the warning area today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Louisiana by tonight. On the Mississippi Coast, the potential exists for winds of 35 to 57 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Storm surge: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. Across the Mississippi Coast, 2 to 4 feet of surge is possible.
Rain: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals to 6 inches through Thursday along the central to the western Gulf Coast from western Florida to southern Texas. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.
Surf: Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
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