Tropical Storm Bertha, which formed Monday, continued to move along the Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Image courtesy of NOAA
July 22 (UPI) — Conditions from Tropical Storm Bertha will continue to spread into Wednesday across parts of the north Gulf Coast, forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Louisiana by late Wednesday.
The storm, which isn’t expected to become a hurricane before fizzling out, formed Monday night.
The epicenter of the storm was located about 130 miles west-southwest of Panama City, Fla., and 85 miles east-northeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, the National Hurricane Center said in its 10 p.m. CDT update. The storm was traveling west at 6 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Winds must reach at least 74 mph for a storm to be considered a hurricane.
There was a tropical storm warning in effect from the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida west to Morgan City, La., metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch was in place from Morgan City, La., west to Cameron, La., and Lake Maurepas. This marked no change from the 4 p.m. CDT update.
“On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days,” the NHC said.
Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida into southern Louisiana. This could produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas, the NHC said.
Surf conditions caused by Bertha will continue spreading west along the northern Gulf Coast, with swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
