..NOAA HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND THAT THE DEPRESSION HAS STRENGTHENED INTO TROPICAL STORM BERTHA...
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL022026
700 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026
SUMMARY OF 700 PM CDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.6N 86.0W
ABOUT 110 MI...180 KM S OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 190 MI...310 KM SE OF MOBILE ALABAMA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB...29.65 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Alabama/Florida Border to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Ochlockonee River Florida westward to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 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.
Additional watches or warnings may be required tonight or on Tuesday.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 700 PM CDT (0000 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 28.6 North, longitude 86.0 West. Bertha has been drifting erratically near 3 mph (6 km/h), but a northwestward motion is expected tonight and Tuesday morning, followed by a west-northwestward or westward motion. On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible during the next day or so.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center.
The minimum central pressure reported by a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in the Florida Panhandle by late tonight into Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the remainder of the watch area by late Tuesday night into 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 AL/FL Border...2-4 ft
Indian Pass, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...1-3 ft
Morgan City, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA...1-3 ft
Lake Pontchartrain...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative 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 office.
RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals around 8 inches through Friday along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast, including southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This rainfall may produce areas of flash flooding, especially in urban areas.
TORNADOES: An isolated tornado or two is possible over the Florida Big Bend region this evening.
SURF: Swells generated by Bertha are affecting portions of the Gulf coast of Florida and are likely to spread westward 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 Pasch
