Tropical Storm Bertha approaches Louisiana coast with surge risk
Tropical Storm Bertha is moving westward along the northern Gulf Coast, with forecasts of a 2-to-4-foot storm surge near New Orleans and tropical storm warnings issued from Florida to Louisiana.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 45 miles northeast of the Mississippi River mouth and 60 miles south of the Pascagoula River mouth as of the 8 a.m. advisory. The storm is moving west at roughly 5 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Officials warned that a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet could affect New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon, potentially flooding normally dry coastal areas as tide levels rise.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Okaloosa/Walton County line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana, while a tropical storm watch covers the area from west of Morgan City to Sargent, Texas, including Lake Maurepas. The National Hurricane Center noted that the surge combined with the tide could push water inland from the shoreline.
Bertha follows Tropical Storm Arthur, the season's first named storm, which reached tropical storm strength on June 17 with 45-mph winds near the Texas Gulf Coast.