Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens, threatening Gulf Coast. See forecast map and its path.
Tropical Storm Bertha was getting stronger early Tuesday, threatening the Gulf Coast with heavy rain as its projected path sparked watches and warnings along the coastal region.
Bertha was in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico as of 5 a.m. ET, heading northwest at 5 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Map shows projected path
Bertha could strengthen more later today, followed by gradual weakening through the middle of the week, forecasters said.
"A slow northwestward to west-northwestward motion is expected today followed by a turn westward by the middle part of this week," the hurricane center said. "On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next several days."
Warnings and watches in effect
A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect Tuesday from the Alabama-Florida border to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana.
Tropical Storm Watches were posted for the area stretching from the Bay-Gulf County line in Florida westward to the Florida/Alabama border, from west of the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border to Morgan City, Louisiana, and for the New Orleans metro area, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
A Storm Surge Watch was in effect for the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
"Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area along the northern Gulf Coast by late today into Wednesday," the hurricane center said. "Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in the Florida Panhandle later today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Louisiana by late tonight into Wednesday."
Forecasters warned of rainfall up to 6 inches in some areas. Rain was expected through the week and along the Gulf Coast and in adjacent inland areas from western Florida to the Texas coast. Parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana will also be affected and the rainfall could bring flash flooding.
The system could also produce storm surge, raising waters up to 4 feet in some locations along the coast.
Bertha comes weeks after the 2026 hurricane season's first named storm, Tropical Storm Arthur, which made landfall in June along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
