Tropical Storm Bertha
Tropical Storm Bertha is moving northwest and is beginning to turn westward. Tropical storm conditions are spreading over parts of the Florida Panhandle within the warning area. As of 100 PM CDT, the storm is located approximately 90 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 125 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama. Bertha has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with a movement speed of 5 mph.
A Tropical Storm Warning is currently in effect from the Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida to the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line in Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect west of the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish Line to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line in Louisiana, and includes Metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas.
Bertha is expected to gradually weaken from Wednesday to Friday as it moves west along the northern Gulf Coast. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 90 miles from the center. The region may experience storm surge flooding on portions of the coast with potential water levels reaching up to 4 feet in some areas. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts up to 6 inches, could lead to flash flooding.
Tropical Storm Bertha is currently active in the Atlantic, creating concerns about its path and potential impact as it moves across the ocean. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the storm's development, with the latest projections showing it likely making landfall later this week. The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories to residents in the expected areas of impact, urging them to prepare for heavy rains, strong winds, and possible flooding. Computer models and tracking maps suggest that while Bertha builds strength, it could potentially intensify before reaching coastal regions.
Residents in several states are particularly at risk, as the tropical system presents immediate threats to localized communities. With experts predicting the storm may evolve into a more significant weather event, emergency management teams are on high alert, mobilizing resources and informing the public about safety measures. The proximity of the storm has already caused disruptions, leading to evacuation advisories and the reinforcement of infrastructure in vulnerable areas. As the weather service continues to provide updates, the affected regions remain under close scrutiny, with a call for vigilance from the public to ensure preparedness as the situation evolves.
Tropical Weather Discussion issued by the NWS National Hurricane Center discusses Tropical Storm Bertha, located near 29.3N 86.3W and moving NNW with sustained winds of 50 kt. Predicted rainfall along the Gulf Coast ranges from 2-6 inches, potentially causing flash flooding. Swells may result in life-threatening surf and rip conditions. Bertha is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by Thursday, moving inland near Sabine Pass by Friday. Consult local weather offices for updates.
In the Gulf of America, aside from Bertha, weak high pressure is noted, supporting moderate or weaker winds W of 90W. Atlantic high pressure will follow Bertha from midweek onwards.
The Caribbean Sea experiences moderate to fresh easterly winds due to the Azores-Bermuda High versus NW Colombia's low pressure, causing strong winds near Colombia and rough seas. Expect fresh to strong winds continuing in the central Caribbean and Windward Passage at night, with moderating conditions elsewhere.
In the Atlantic Ocean, a deep-layer trough produces NE winds causing convection from 22N to 30N westward to 65W. Moderate to fresh trades are prevalent east of 45W from 15N to 25N. The surface trough will move toward 70W by Wednesday, influencing wind patterns. Trade winds remain strong offshore Hispaniola and near Windward Passage.
July 21, 2026, at 7:15 PM EDTThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025.
Named Storms: 8 to 14
Hurricanes: 3 to 6
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 1 to 3
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
Primary Influencing Factor: Developing El Niño conditions expected to suppress Atlantic storm activity
This forecast indicates:
Despite the lower forecast, NOAA emphasizes that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to create a major disaster, and residents in hurricane-prone areas should still prepare as usual for the season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional detailsDespite fewer total storms than forecasted, the 2025 season produced several extremely intense hurricanes, including three Category 5 systems, making it one of the more powerful Atlantic seasons in recent history.
2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion
Harvey (2017) - $125 billion
Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)
Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.
Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.
Designed in Florida by
"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.
An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."
When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.
The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.
A tropical depression is a type of tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph (34 knots or 63 km/h).
Key characteristics:
It's the first stage of development in the tropical cyclone classification used by the National Hurricane Center, followed by tropical storm and then hurricane.
