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Bertha Makes Landfall in Louisiana, Weakens Over Texas

7/23/2026

Summary

Bertha Lands

Tropical Storm Bertha landed at the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana on July 22 2026 with 45 mph winds.
The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for Texas and a warning from Plaquemines-St. Bernard line to Sargent, Texas.
Forecasters expect 2-4 inches of rain, 1-4-foot surge, 40-60 mph winds and wind shear that will keep the storm below hurricane strength and cause it to dissipate over inland Texas by Friday night.

Summary

Bertha Sheared

Midwest high pressure is generating northeasterly wind shear that is tearing Tropical Storm Bertha apart, independent of El Niño.
El Niño normally boosts upper-level Caribbean winds, but its strongest shear appears at lower latitudes, says Phil Klotzbach.
Colorado State University forecasts only nine named storms for 2026, well below the 14-storm average, because of El Niño shear.
Rhome of the National Hurricane Center urges people to update evacuation plans, document valuables, and verify insurance deductibles now.

History

Historical Context

In 1965 Hurricane Betsy prompted Congress to build a levee system designed for Category 3 storms. When Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, its rapid intensification to Category 5 and a storm surge over 20 ft overwhelmed those levees, killing 1,392 people and reshaping federal emergency protocols. The 2026 Tropical Storm Bertha, with 45-mph winds and a 1-4-ft surge, echoes those vulnerabilities as the NHC stresses updated evacuation guidance.

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Bertha Lands

Tropical Storm Bertha landed at the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana on July 22 2026 with 45 mph winds.
The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for Texas and a warning from Plaquemines-St. Bernard line to Sargent, Texas.
Forecasters expect 2-4 inches of rain, 1-4-foot surge, 40-60 mph winds and wind shear that will keep the storm below hurricane strength and cause it to dissipate over inland Texas by Friday night.

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