Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, formed off the coast of Alabama on Monday, threatening to bring heavy rain and the possibility of flash flooding along the northern Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center said Bertha was expected to gradually strengthen over the warm waters of the Gulf, triggering tropical storm and storm surge watches from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana, and a tropical storm warning for parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The season’s first named storm — Tropical Storm Arthur — brought heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of southern Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi last month.
Where is Bertha now, and what is its path?
According to the hurricane center’s latest advisory, as of 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday:
Bertha was located about 100 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Fla., and about 175 miles southeast of Mobile, Ala.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph
It is moving northwest at 5 mph
Tropical Storm Bertha.
(NHC/NOAA)
It is expected to slowly turn west over the next day or so and move near or along the northern Gulf Coast over the coming days, potentially making landfall in southeast Louisiana by midweek.
Watches and warnings in effect
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
The Alabama/Florida border to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana
This means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
The Bay-Gulf County line in Florida to the Florida-Alabama border
West of the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border to Morgan City, La.
Metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
This means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.
A storm surge watch is in effect for:
The Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River
This means there is a possibility of life-threatening conditions from rising water moving inland during the next 48 hours.
The biggest threats from the storm
The primary impacts from the system is expected to be heavy rain, wind and storm surges, which could lead to flash flooding across the Gulf Coast, especially in areas — like Texas’s Hill Country — that recently experienced torrential rainfall.
According to forecasters, the storm is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of rain along the Gulf Coast until Thursday, with up to 6 inches possible in isolated areas.
A storm surge of up to 4 feet is possible in coastal Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama/Florida border.
Swells generated by the system could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents at beaches throughout the Gulf.
How is the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season shaping up?
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30. And forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting eight to 14 total named storms — which is considered a below-normal season for the Atlantic basin. Out of those named storms, three to six are forecast to become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (considered Category 3, 4 or 5).
An average season has 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season produced 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
