Tropical Storm Watch Extended to Texas Coast as Bertha Approaches Gulf

The National Hurricane Center issued an updated advisory at 7 a.m., extending a Tropical Storm Watch westward from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas. The watch indicates that tropical-storm conditions are possible within the area over the next 24 to 48 hours, most likely affecting the upper Texas coast on Thursday or Thursday night.

Bertha, currently located about 45 miles northeast of the Mississippi River mouth and 60 miles south of Pascagoula, Mississippi, is maintaining maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Forecast models show the storm will make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon and then weaken as it moves inland.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from the Okaloosa-Walton County line in Florida through Morgan City, Louisiana, and includes the New Orleans metropolitan area and Lake Pontchartrain. Coastal regions along the Gulf are expected to experience isolated rainfall, elevated tides, minor flooding, gusty winds and surf through Thursday and early Friday. Inland areas may see scattered thunderstorms and breezy conditions.

Officials said no significant impacts are anticipated for the Houston area. The storm is expected to generate isolated flash flooding and coastal flooding along the Gulf Coast, but Houston residents are advised to monitor local updates.

Bertha is the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following Arthur, which brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the Texas Gulf Coast in mid-June.