Tropical Storm Bertha has begun making landfall over the US Gulf Coast as millions have been warned of potential flooding and power outages in the next few hours.
AccuWeather reported that Bertha began impacting the Louisiana coast, near the far eastern portions of St Bernard Parish, around 1pm ET on Wednesday.
Bertha, which currently has sustained winds of 50mph, is expected to continue moving over southeastern Louisiana at tropical storm strength throughout the day, but experts fear its path along the Gulf may help the storm gain strength as it moves west.
The AccuWeather team warned in a statement: ‘If the center shifts south or a new center develops over the Gulf, Bertha could begin to reorganize before reaching the Texas coast.’
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued tropical storm warnings across a 500-mile stretch that includes the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
Meteorologists predict the storm will ‘hug’ the US coastline, making multiple landfalls throughout the week in both Louisiana and Texas.
Major cities including New Orleans, Mobile, Biloxi and Houston will be in the path of Bertha, which is predicted to deliver dangerous wind gusts, several inches of rain, localized flooding and potentially hazardous storm surges along beachfront areas.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Breanna Grill added: ‘While the exact track of Bertha can still fluctuate over the next couple of days, heavy rainfall and hazardous marine conditions are expected regardless of the storm’s path.’
Pictured: Tropical Storm Bertha moves through the Gulf of America on July 22 ahead of its first landfall
Forecasters predict Tropical Storm Bertha will make landfall in Louisiana by as early as 5pm ET on July 22
Pictured: Locals fill sandbags ahead of Tropical Storm Bertha’s landfall at Morris FX Jeff Sr Park in Algiers, New Orleans
Up to eight inches of rain is expected to fall across the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, potentially triggering deadly flash floods in many areas as Bertha nears the coast.
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warned that the longer the slow-moving storm lingers around the US coastline, the higher the chances are that it causes severe flooding and potentially life-threatening conditions.
DaSilva said in a statement: ‘Bertha may not be a major hurricane, but slow-moving tropical systems like this one can be just as disruptive.’
‘For folks in Louisiana who are still recovering from Arthur, now is the time to check drainage around your property, avoid driving through standing water, and have a way to get updates if conditions change quickly,’ the forecaster added.
Louisiana has already activated its emergency operations center as the storm nears, with the Governor’s Office urging: ‘Check your emergency supplies. Strong winds could result in power outages. Check on friends or loved ones who may need assistance.’
Officials with NWS added that the risk for boaters and those living along the coast could be severe this week, with Bertha capable of capsizing and damaging vessels as it strengthens and moves west.
Marinas along the Louisiana coast were largely deserted on Tuesday ahead of storm surges, where sea levels rise sharply, which are predicted to exceed three feet when Bertha reaches land.
Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to ‘hug’ the US Gulf Coast, making landfall at least twice this week
A nearly empty Joshua’s Marina set outside the the levee protection and storm surge area in Buras, Louisiana on July 21
A second landfall is expected to strike the Texas coast late Thursday night into Friday morning, slamming into the upper Texas coast between Galveston and the Sabine River-Beaumont area.
The storm is expected to weakened by then, but is still predicted to bring heavy rain, gusty winds, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents.
Meteorologists noted that the Gulf may be spared a severe impact of the storm thanks to extreme wind shear blowing south from the northern US, which is slamming into Bertha and pushing thunderstorms away from the shore.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: ‘If Bertha were to remain over southern Louisiana and not make it back to the Gulf, much of its circulation could diminish prior to reaching Texas, and the storm would quickly transition from a tropical depression to a tropical rainstorm.’
Meteorologist Max Velocity added in a social media post Wednesday afternoon that Bertha was ‘looking worse for wear today as thunderstorms continue to be blasted away from the center of circulation.’
However, these winds may also push Bertha farther south, giving the relatively weak tropical storm a chance to regain its strength and form a bigger storm by using the warm waters of the Gulf as fuel.
The last named storm to make landfall in the US was Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. The last named storm to strike Louisiana was Hurricane Francine in 2024.
Strong winds from the north appear to be pushing against Tropical Storm Bertha, keeping severe thunderstorms away from land
A Louisiana resident stands by her car after securing supplies ahead of Tropical Storm Bertha’s landfall on July 22
At the same time as millions brace for a direct hit from Bertha, potentially deadly heat continues to grip the entire region in the path of the storm.
An extreme heat warning has been issued across all of Louisiana, western Mississippi and eastern Texas.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 90s, with the heat index skyrocketing to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
The heat index is the ‘feels like’ temperature, which is hotter when the air is more humid. On a 90-degree day, high humidity can make the ‘feels like’ temperature reach 105°F.
NWS issued a stark warning about the heat, stating: ‘If you have AC, use it. Fans may not be adequate. Wear light-weight, light-colored clothing. Stay hydrated.’
