TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened on Tuesday as it moved closer to the Gulf Coast, prompting the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to extend tropical storm warnings into Florida. As of the NHC’s 8 p.m. advisory issued July 21, 2026, the center of Bertha was located approximately 120 miles west-southwest of Panama City and 105 miles south-southeast of Mobile, Alabama. The system is moving west at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and higher gusts.
Warnings Extend Across the Panhandle
The NHC has extended a tropical storm warning to include seven Florida counties. This warning now runs from the Bay-Gulf County line westward to Morgan City, Louisiana, encompassing metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Additionally, a tropical storm watch is in effect for areas west of Morgan City to Cameron, Louisiana, including Lake Maurepas.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from Bertha’s center. A wind gust reaching 43 mph was recently reported at Pensacola Beach. NHC senior hurricane specialist Richard Pasch stated that a west-northwestward or westward motion is expected Wednesday through Friday, with the storm likely moving near or along the northern Gulf Coast during this period.
Flood and Storm Surge Risks
While a previous storm surge warning for parts of the Gulf Coast was discontinued, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for portions of the southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi coastline. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Mississippi-Alabama border. From Cameron, Louisiana, to the mouth of the Mississippi, a surge of 1 to 3 feet is forecast.
Rainfall totals are projected between 2 and 4 inches through Thursday, with some areas receiving up to 6 inches along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida into southern Louisiana. This includes portions of Alabama and Mississippi, raising concerns for flash flooding. Swells along the coast may also cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Season Context and Forecast
Bertha was originally the second tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season but spun into a named storm by 8 p.m. Monday with 40 mph winds, intensifying further through Tuesday morning. NHC senior hurricane specialist Brad Reinhart noted that models suggest the system is likely at its peak intensity and should begin to gradually weaken over the next few days due to strong northeasterly vertical wind shear.
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, with the height of activity typically occurring from mid-August into October. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects this season to be below normal, forecasting 8 to 14 named storms, including 3 to 6 hurricanes.
