Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said Monday night, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and its center about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida.
A tropical storm watch is in effect from the Florida panhandle to the southeast Louisiana coast, covering Panama City and Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Gulfport, Mississippi. Tropical storm conditions, including strong winds and rain, are possible in the watch area by late Monday.
Bertha is moving very slowly at just 3 mph and is forecast to gradually strengthen over the next 48 hours while tracking mostly parallel to or along the Gulf Coast, with the latest forecast placing it near or south of New Orleans by Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions will be possible from New Orleans to Houston on Wednesday and into Thursday.
The system is expected to weaken back to a tropical depression sometime Thursday and possibly dissipate or become post-tropical by the end of the week as it approaches the Texas coast. Widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected along the Gulf Coast through Friday, with isolated totals up to 8 inches possible, and a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet could impact parts of the Florida Gulf Coast.
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