Tropical Storm Bertha continues its movement along the Gulf Coast of the United States and is heading towards Texas this Thursday, after making landfall on Wednesday in southeastern Louisiana.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), at 8:00 a.m. (ET), the center of the system was again over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 70 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was moving west at a speed of 13 miles per hour.

The phenomenon maintains maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, while gusts close to 40 miles per hour were already being recorded in different sectors of the Louisiana coast.

Bertha heads toward Texas after making landfall in Louisiana

Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon in St. Bernard Parish, located about 40 miles east of New Orleans, before returning to the Gulf of Mexico and continuing its westward path.

Forecasts indicate that the storm will make landfall again during the day on Thursday, possibly between the Galveston and Brazosport areas, on the Texas coast. After that impact, the system is expected to weaken rapidly until dissipating between Thursday night and Friday.

Forecasters say most of the rain will remain over the sea, reducing the risk of widespread flooding on land. Even so, the authorities maintain surveillance for possible accumulations of water in some coastal sectors.

Warnings persist for winds, storm surge and rip currents

Although Bertha is considered a relatively weak storm, authorities maintain active warnings in different parts of the Gulf Coast due to the risks associated with waves and wind.

A storm surge of up to three feet is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana to Port Bolivar, Texas. Additionally, storm surge will continue to move westward over the next few days, creating dangerous conditions for swimmers and small boats.

Rip currents also pose a significant risk on several Gulf Coast beaches.

During Wednesday, tropical storm force winds were recorded up to 160 miles from the center of the system. A 44 mile per hour gust was reported at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, while in Panama City Beach, Florida, the wind blew a Waffle House restaurant sign onto a car.

Moderate rain and extreme heat on the Gulf Coast

Precipitation associated with Bertha will be generally moderate. Forecasts estimate accumulations of between one and four inches of rain in different parts of the coast, with higher amounts in isolated areas.

The Corpus Christi, Texas, area could see between one and three inches of rain through Friday.

In Louisiana, Bertha's arrival coincided with an episode of extreme heat, an unusual combination. The National Weather Service said it was the first time in at least two decades that much of the southern part of the state was simultaneously under tropical storm warnings and extreme heat.

Given this scenario, Governor Jeff Landry described the forecast as “encouraging,” although he asked the population to remain prepared for possible localized flooding and other effects of the system.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic season

Bertha is the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Previously, Tropical Storm Arthur left heavy rain and flooding in the southeastern United States, especially affecting communities in Mississippi that are still recovering from that damage.

While Bertha loses strength over the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists continue to monitor its evolution until it dissipates over Texas, while maintaining the call to the population to follow the recommendations of the authorities and avoid coastal areas with strong waves and dangerous currents.

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