Tropical Storm Bertha has intensified in the Gulf of Mexico but is expected to weaken as it approaches the U.S., potentially bringing coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana. A tropical storm warning is in effect for these areas, including New Orleans. Bertha formed about 120 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, moving west at 6 mph. Landfall is anticipated Wednesday night along Louisiana’s coast.
Officials in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida have opened sandbag distribution sites, and red flags are up along beaches due to dangerous rip currents. While the storm could cause flash flooding and a storm surge of up to 4 feet, forecasts suggest that its worst effects might remain offshore.
Bertha is the second tropical cyclone of the Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur, which previously affected Mississippi. In the eastern Pacific, Hurricane Faust has formed, moving away from land with no immediate threat. Overall, the NOAA predicts a below-normal hurricane season, but the potential for severe storms remains.
Source link
