Tropical Storm Bertha Emerges, While Hurricane Fausto Develops

WHO:

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - National Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storm Bertha.

WHAT:

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Tropical Storm Bertha was about 120 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 105 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Bertha was forecast to make landfall Wednesday night in a coastal area of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Areas in Louisiana from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Mississippi state line could see storm surges of up to 4 feet.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida opened sites to distribute sandbags to residents.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Tropical Storm Bertha was about 120 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 105 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Bertha was forecast to make landfall Wednesday night in a coastal area of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida opened sites to distribute sandbags to residents.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - Areas in Louisiana from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Mississippi state line could see storm surges of up to 4 feet.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Bertha was "stationary" on the night of July 20 as federal forecasters warned it could bring tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to parts of the northern Gulf Coast in the coming days.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Some additional strengthening of Bertha is possible through July 21.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The hurricane center stated that the rainfall may produce areas of flash flooding, especially in urban areas.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva noted that while rainfall will be welcome across portions of the Florida Panhandle due to an ongoing drought, the flooding risk can be increased due to dry soil.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - If heavy rain shifts farther west into the Texas Hill Country, there will be elevated concern for flash flooding given the terrain and recent significant flooding that occurred across the region.

NY Post - Tropical Storm Bertha is drifting erratically toward populated coastal areas, posing a threat of heavy rain, storm surge, and damaging wind gusts.

USA Today - Bertha is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher totals around 8 inches through Friday along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast, including southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

USA Today - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's seasonal outlook predicts a total of eight to 14 named storms for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with three to six expected to become hurricanes.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Tropical Storm Bertha formed from a tropical depression on July 20, 2026.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Bertha is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Bertha had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected, with locally higher totals around 8 inches.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Tropical storm watches are in effect along the Gulf Coast.

WHERE:

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - New Orleans was under a tropical storm warning.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Bertha was located about 140 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and about 215 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - A storm surge watch is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

WHEN:

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Tropical storm conditions are expected to develop late July 20 into July 21.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Rainfall is expected through Friday.

WHY:

USA Today - The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to see "below-normal" activity levels, largely due to the storm-snuffing impacts of El Niño.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and coastal flooding due to its movement toward populated coastal areas.

HOW:

[11:08 p.m. ET] - AP News - The storm was moving at 6 mph to the west.

[11:08 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Forecasters predict a slow west-northwestward or westward movement for Bertha during the next several days.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 02:50 UTC)

Tropical Storm Bertha is currently located about 120 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 105 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds near 60 miles per hour. The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday night in a coastal area of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans, where residents could experience storm surges of up to 4 feet. In preparation, authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida have opened sites to distribute sandbags to help residents brace for the impact.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 01:25 UTC)

Tropical Storm Bertha is currently located about 120 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 105 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds near 60 miles per hour. The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday night in a coastal area of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans, prompting authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida to open sites for sandbag distribution. Residents in Louisiana, from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Mississippi state line, could experience storm surges of up to 4 feet as Bertha moves west at 6 miles per hour.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 19:25 UTC)

Bertha is currently stationary, but federal forecasters are warning that it could bring tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to parts of the northern Gulf Coast in the coming days. Some additional strengthening of Bertha is possible through July 21, and the hurricane center has indicated that the rainfall may lead to flash flooding, particularly in urban areas. While the rain may be beneficial for the Florida Panhandle, which is experiencing drought, there is an increased risk of flooding due to dry soil, and if heavy rain shifts into the Texas Hill Country, concerns for flash flooding will rise because of the terrain and recent significant flooding in the area.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 14:42 UTC)

Tropical Storm Bertha is currently drifting toward populated coastal areas, bringing the threat of heavy rain, storm surge, and damaging wind gusts. The storm is forecasted to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with some areas potentially receiving up to 8 inches through Friday along the Gulf Coast and parts of the inland regions from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipates a total of eight to 14 named storms for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with three to six expected to develop into hurricanes, although overall activity levels are predicted to be "below-normal" due to the influence of El Niño.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 05:57 UTC)

The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring Tropical Storm Bertha, which formed from a tropical depression on July 20, 2026, and is now the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. With maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, Bertha is located about 140 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and is expected to bring rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with some areas possibly receiving up to 8 inches. Tropical storm watches are in effect along the Gulf Coast, and a storm surge watch has been issued from the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River, as forecasters predict Bertha will move slowly west-northwestward or westward in the coming days.