Tropical Storm Bertha
Tropical Storm Bertha is approaching the coast of southeastern Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm is currently located 35 miles south-southwest of Biloxi, Mississippi, and 60 miles east of New Orleans, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Alabama/Florida border to Morgan City, Louisiana, including Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A Tropical Storm Watch is in place west of Morgan City, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas, and for Lake Maurepas. Bertha is expected to move west-northwest and could maintain tropical storm intensity through late Thursday.
Bertha's effects include tropical storm conditions spreading across portions of the northern Gulf Coast and the potential for storm surge flooding along immediate coastal areas. Rainfall amounts are projected to be 1 to 4 inches, with isolated totals reaching 6 inches along the central to western Gulf Coast, which may result in isolated flash flooding. Additionally, swells from Bertha are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northern Gulf Coast.
Tropical Storm Bertha is rapidly approaching the Louisiana coastline, threatening to make landfall with significant impact. The storm, characterized by high winds and torrential rainfall, is not only affecting the local areas but also intensifying flood concerns along the East Coast. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the storm's trajectory and power, as Louisiana officials prepare for potential evacuations and resource allocation. The National Hurricane Center is keeping a vigilant eye on Bertha, providing timely updates to ensure safety and preparedness across the region.
As Bertha continues its advance, the Southern United States remains on high alert, with live trackers providing real-time updates on the storm's impact. States like Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are bracing for heavy rains and potential flooding. Meanwhile, Florida is experiencing residual effects, with heightened concerns over rising water levels and infrastructure strain. The formation of another tropical depression nearby only compounds the situation, prompting urgent advisories and preparations to mitigate damage and safeguard communities.
Tropical Storm Bertha is currently located near 29.8N 88.6W, or about 30 nm south of Pascagoula, Mississippi, moving WNW at 5 kt with maximum sustained winds of 45 kt and gusts up to 55 kt. The storm is expected to move westward with increasing speed along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday, eventually moving inland into Texas by Friday. While weakening is anticipated, Bertha could remain at tropical storm strength until late Thursday. Swells from Bertha will reach the northern Gulf Coast, presenting dangerous surf and rip current conditions.
An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is along 37W, and a central Atlantic wave is along 50W, both moving westward with no significant deep convection noted. The monsoon trough and ITCZ are producing scattered convection east of 21W and west of 48W.
In the Gulf of America outside Bertha’s influence, moderate winds and seas of 2-7 ft are observed. Bertha's movement will affect southeast Louisiana and the upper Texas coast before dissipating in Texas by Friday evening. In the wake of Bertha, a new high-pressure system over the NE Gulf will maintain light to gentle winds across the basin.
In the Caribbean, the usual pressure gradient is lessened by a surface trough near Hispaniola, resulting in moderate to fresh trades primarily north of Colombia and Venezuela. The Atlantic ridge will maintain fresh to strong winds in the south-central Caribbean, and fresh winds will pulse across the Windward Passage and the Gulf of Honduras through the forecast period.
In the Atlantic Ocean, moderate trades and seas of 4-7 ft prevail, with notable fresh to strong NE winds off Western Sahara. Surface troughs are promoting convection near Hispaniola, southwest of the Azores, and between 26W-34W. Fresh to locally strong trades are expected near Hispaniola, with a surface trough impacting the Bahamas and central/south Florida with showers and thunderstorms in the coming days.
The 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.
