Tropical Storm Bertha is moving west across the Gulf of Mexico, carrying maximum sustained winds of 60 mph toward the central Gulf Coast. Forecast tracks show the storm making its initial landfall in southeastern Louisiana late Wednesday or Wednesday evening.
Storm Surge and Rainfall
After moving onshore, Bertha is expected to meander along the southern Louisiana coastline on Thursday, briefly re-emerge over the northern Gulf waters, and track toward the upper Texas coast by the end of the week. Severe rainfall remains the primary hazard along the Interstate 10 corridor, with forecasters expecting a widespread band of 1 to 4 inches of rain stretching from the Mississippi and Alabama coasts through southern Louisiana and into Texas.
Wind gusts ranging between 40 and 60 mph are anticipated along the coastal I-10 corridor as spiral bands move inland, with isolated peak gusts reaching 75 mph. Storm surge levels are projected between 1 and 3 feet across much of the coastline, though localized surge could reach up to 5 feet depending on final storm intensity.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
