Tropical Storm Bertha Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to the Gulf Coast, Track its Latest Path and Updates
Tropical Storm Bertha continued its slow movement along the Gulf Coast on Thursday, bringing rain, wind, and rough surf to Louisiana and Texas. As of 8 a.m. ET, the storm's center was 70 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, moving west at 13 mph.
The National Hurricane Center forecast indicates that Bertha's center will likely straddle the Louisiana coast on Thursday before reaching the upper Texas coast by Thursday evening. Isolated flash flooding is possible through Friday morning along the central to western Gulf Coast, from northwest Florida to southern Texas.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast between the Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish border in Louisiana to Sargent, Texas, with expected winds of 39 to 73 mph. Powerful upper-level winds, known as wind shear, are weakening the system and may influence the remainder of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be impacted by a powerful El Niño.
According to hurricane expert Michael Lowry, El Niño's increased wind shear can prevent storms from developing into strong hurricanes. Bertha is expected to maintain its tropical storm intensity until it reaches the upper Texas coast later on Thursday, producing 2 to 4 inches of rain and potentially leading to isolated flash flooding. The storm is forecast to dissipate over Texas by Thursday night or Friday.
The National Hurricane Center forecast indicates that Bertha's center will likely straddle the Louisiana coast on Thursday before reaching the upper Texas coast by Thursday evening. Isolated flash flooding is possible through Friday morning along the central to western Gulf Coast, from northwest Florida to southern Texas.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast between the Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish border in Louisiana to Sargent, Texas, with expected winds of 39 to 73 mph. Powerful upper-level winds, known as wind shear, are weakening the system and may influence the remainder of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be impacted by a powerful El Niño.
According to hurricane expert Michael Lowry, El Niño's increased wind shear can prevent storms from developing into strong hurricanes. Bertha is expected to maintain its tropical storm intensity until it reaches the upper Texas coast later on Thursday, producing 2 to 4 inches of rain and potentially leading to isolated flash flooding. The storm is forecast to dissipate over Texas by Thursday night or Friday.
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