...TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...
Tropical Storm Bertha Advisory Number 9
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL022026
1000 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026
SUMMARY OF 1000 AM CDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...29.3N 86.3W
ABOUT 70 MI...115 KM SSW OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 145 MI...235 KM SE OF MOBILE ALABAMA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 345 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.39 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning from the Florida/Alabama border eastward to the Bay/Gulf County Line.
The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended westward to the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line.
The Tropical Storm Watch has been extended westward from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Vermil-ion/Cameron Parish Line.
The Storm Surge Watch has been discontinued along the northern Gulf Coast. A Coastal Flood Warn-ing has been issued by the National Weather Service for portions of the southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi coastline.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida to the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line in Louisiana
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* West of the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line
* Metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 24 to 48 hours.
For storm information specific to your area, including other coastal and inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 29.3 North, longitude 86.3 West. Bertha is moving toward the north-northwest near 3 mph (6 km/h) but is ex-pected to turn toward the west-northwest and west later today and tonight. Then, a continued westward motion is forecast through the middle of the week. On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next several days.
Data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected today, followed by gradual weakening through the middle of this week.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center. NOAA buoy 42039 south-southeast of Pensacola recently reported sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) and a gust of 54 mph (86 km/h).
The estimated minimum central pressure based on aircraft data is 995 mb (29.39 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area along the northern Gulf coast by late today into Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Louisi-ana by Wednesday.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA to MS/AL Border...2-4 ft
Indian Pass, FL to Aucilla River, FL...1-3 ft
MS/AL Border to AL/FL Border...1-3 ft
Lake Pontchartrain...1-3 ft
Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast. Surge-related flooding depends on the rela-tive timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast of-fice.
RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals around 6 inches through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida into southern Louisiana. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.
SURF: Swells generated by Bertha are affecting portions of Florida and will spread westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Forecaster Reinhart
