Tropical Storm Bertha Threatens Gulf Coast with Heavy Rain and Storm Surge

On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported that a tropical depression—later upgraded to Tropical Storm Bertha—developed in the Gulf of Mexico about 125 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and 200 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama. Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 35 mph (NBC Miami) and later at around 50 mph as the system drifted northwest at roughly 2 mph. Forecasters expect the storm to linger near the northern Gulf Coast through Friday, bringing 2-5 inches of rain, isolated 8-inch totals, and the possibility of an isolated tornado over Florida’s Big Bend region. A storm surge watch covering the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi River mouth warns of 2-4 ft of coastal flooding, with life-threatening surge possible in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

WTVJ - NBC 6 - MiamiThe Guardian

The NHC issued a tropical-storm warning from the Alabama-Florida border westward to southeastern Louisiana, and a storm-surge watch from the Mississippi River mouth to the same border. The agency highlighted “a risk of life-threatening coastal flooding from rising water moving inland … within the next 48 hours.” The watch also notes that “potentially life-threatening storm surges of up to four feet could occur in portions of the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines.” No coastal watches were in effect for Hurricane Fausto in the eastern Pacific, though swells were expected to affect the Baja California Peninsula.

The GuardianWTVJ - NBC 6 - Miami

Escambia County, Florida, responded by distributing sand for residents in flood-prone zones to construct sandbags. Red-flag warnings were posted on Orange Beach, Alabama, cautioning swimmers about high surf and strong currents.

WTVJ - NBC 6 - Miami

• “Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Gulf of Mexico, south of the Florida Panhandle, and it is drifting erratically Tuesday toward populated coastal areas bearing a threat of heavy rain, storm surge and damaging wind gusts, forecasters say.” — NBC Miami

WTVJ - NBC 6 - Miami

• “Potentially life-threatening storm surges of up to four feet could occur in portions of the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, the hurricane center said, warning Bertha could spin off an isolated tornado or two over the Florida Big Bend region in the week.” — NBC Miami

WTVJ - NBC 6 - Miami

• “In Escambia County, Florida, emergency officials offered sand for people living in flood-prone areas to use for sandbags.” — NBC Miami

WTVJ - NBC 6 - Miami

• “The depression was expected to move near or along the northern Gulf coast over the next several days.” — The Guardian

The Guardian

• “The NHC said the storm surge watch indicated a risk of life-threatening coastal flooding from rising water moving inland from the shoreline within the next 48 hours.” — The Guardian

The Guardian