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Tropical Storm Bertha Threatens New Orleans, Triggers Sandbagging, Chevron Shutdown

7/22/2026

Summary

Bertha Threatens

The National Hurricane Center warned Tropical Storm Bertha will hit New Orleans Wednesday with 60-mph winds, 2-4 inches rain and a 4-ft surge.
Michael Buchanan said wind is the biggest threat.
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida opened sandbag sites and closed Gulf beaches under double red-flag warnings.
NOAA projects a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season while Hurricane Fausto, 805 mi off Baja California, has 80-mph winds and could intensify, producing surf.

Summary

Chevron Halts Production

Chevron shut production at Petronius platform in the Gulf and moved personnel onshore because of Tropical Storm Bertha.
It pulled crews from two other Gulf platforms, lowering output.
A system is forecast to bring thunderstorms and gusts from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, prompting the rescission of a New York City tornado watch.
Bertha follows Tropical Storm Arthur, a storm that made landfall in June on the Texas Gulf Coast.

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Bertha Threatens

The National Hurricane Center warned Tropical Storm Bertha will hit New Orleans Wednesday with 60-mph winds, 2-4 inches rain and a 4-ft surge.
Michael Buchanan said wind is the biggest threat.
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida opened sandbag sites and closed Gulf beaches under double red-flag warnings.
NOAA projects a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season while Hurricane Fausto, 805 mi off Baja California, has 80-mph winds and could intensify, producing surf.

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