Tropical Storm Bertha Brings Flooding, Blackouts to US Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Bertha is hitting the US Gulf Coast now while millions brace for flooding and blackouts within hours.

AccuWeather says the system made landfall on Alabama and Louisiana shores Wednesday afternoon around 1pm ET.

Current winds are holding steady at 45mph, yet experts fear the storm could grow stronger as it travels west across the Gulf.

The AccuWeather team issued a stark warning that if the center shifts south or a new one forms over the water, Bertha might reorganize before reaching Texas.

National Weather Service warnings cover a massive 500-mile stretch from the Florida Panhandle down through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and into Texas.

Forecasters expect this system to hug the coastline, making multiple landfalls in both Louisiana and Texas throughout the week ahead.

Double red flags have already submerged cars along waterfronts and shut down beaches in Alabama where officials cite severe rip currents and rough surf as immediate threats.

Major cities like New Orleans, Mobile, Biloxi and Houston sit directly in Bertha's path facing dangerous gusts, heavy rain inches deep, localized floods and hazardous storm surges near the beach.

Orange Beach closed its doors on July 22 under these double red flag warnings just as Tropical Storm Bertha began its first landfall across the region.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Breanna Grill noted that while the exact track might wiggle over the next couple days, heavy rain and bad marine conditions are coming regardless of where the storm goes.

Up to eight inches of rain could fall on the Florida Panhandle Wednesday alone, potentially triggering deadly flash floods in many communities as Bertha nears the coast.

AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warned that a slow-moving storm lingering around the US coastline increases the risk for severe flooding and life-threatening situations.

DaSilva stated clearly that even if Bertha does not become a major hurricane, systems moving slowly like this one can still cause massive disruption to daily life.

He urged residents in Louisiana who are still recovering from Arthur to check drainage around their property immediately, avoid driving through standing water, and find a reliable way to get updates if conditions change quickly.

Louisiana has already activated its emergency operations center as the storm approaches with the Governor's Office telling everyone to check emergency supplies because strong winds could knock out power grids across the state.

Check on friends or loved ones who might need help right now. Officials with the NWS warn that boaters and residents along the coast face severe risks this week as Bertha strengthens and moves west, capable of capsizing and damaging vessels in its path. A woman is pictured catching the wind from Tropical Storm Bertha at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial in Shell Beach, Louisiana.

Cars in Alabama were submerged after Bertha caused storm surges several feet high upon landfall on July 22. Marinas along the Louisiana coast sat largely deserted on Tuesday ahead of incoming surges where sea levels are predicted to rise sharply, exceeding three feet when the system hits land. A second landfall is expected late Thursday night into Friday morning as Bertha slams into the upper Texas coast between Galveston and the Sabine River-Beaumont area.

The storm will likely be weakened by then, yet heavy rain, gusty winds, coastal flooding, and dangerous rip currents remain on the horizon. Meteorologists noted that the Gulf might escape a severe impact thanks to extreme wind shear blowing south from the northern US, slamming into Bertha and pushing thunderstorms away from the shore. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: 'If Bertha were to remain over southern Louisiana and not make it back to the Gulf, much of its circulation could diminish prior to reaching Texas, and the storm would quickly transition from a tropical depression to a tropical rainstorm.'

Meteorologist Max Velocity added in a social media post Wednesday afternoon that Bertha was 'looking worse for wear today as thunderstorms continue to be blasted away from the center of circulation.' However, these winds may also push Bertha farther south, giving this relatively weak tropical storm a chance to regain strength and form a bigger system by using warm Gulf waters as fuel. The last named storm to make landfall in the US was Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. The last named storm to strike Louisiana was Hurricane Francine in 2024.

Strong winds from the north appear to be pushing against Tropical Storm Bertha, keeping severe thunderstorms away from land. Beachgoers were seen near MB Miller County Pier in Panama City Beach, Florida, as the system passed on July 22. Dangerous rip currents and storm surges are expected along the US Gulf Coast as Bertha moves west towards Louisiana and Texas.

While millions brace for a direct hit, potentially deadly heat continues to grip the entire region in the path of the storm. An extreme heat warning has been issued across all of Louisiana, western Mississippi and eastern Texas. Temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 90s, with the heat index skyrocketing to 118 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat index is the 'feels like' temperature, which becomes hotter when the air is more humid. On a 90-degree day, high humidity can make the 'feels like' temperature reach 105°F.

NWS issued a stark warning about the heat: 'If you have AC, use it. Fans may not be adequate. Wear light-weight, light-colored clothing. Stay hydrated.