Tropical Storm Bertha Heads for Texas Coast After Landfall
Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday and is now churning toward a second landfall on the Texas coast, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding to the Gulf Coast. The storm, the second named system of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, has prompted tropical storm warnings from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas, according to AP News.
Storm Path and Intensity
Bertha first came ashore at approximately 2:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, about 40 miles east of New Orleans, near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area. As of Thursday, the storm was located roughly 100 miles east of Galveston, Texas, crawling westward with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h). The National Hurricane Center reported that tropical storm-force winds extended up to 160 miles from the storm’s center.
Forecasters expect Bertha to weaken rapidly after moving onshore and dissipate over inland Texas by Friday. The storm reached its peak intensity on Tuesday with winds of 60 mph, but its lopsided structure has kept the heaviest rains offshore, significantly reducing flood risks.
Impact and Warnings
No deaths or significant structural damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico south of the Florida Panhandle. However, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant. The National Hurricane Center warned that Bertha could still produce up to 2 feet of storm surge along the coast and trigger isolated flash flooding from heavy rains in coastal and south Texas.
In Galveston, local officials urged residents to brace for a “windy day” and secure outdoor objects. “While no significant impacts are forecast, some gusty storms may blow through the island throughout the day,” Galveston’s Office of Emergency Management said in a Facebook post.
Louisiana State Climatologist Jay Grymes offered a measured assessment: “The storm is unlikely to leave behind widespread damage. The impact should be manageable for coastal communities.” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the forecast “encouraging” but warned residents to prepare for some flooding.
Rare Dual Weather Warnings
In an unusual meteorological event, southern Louisiana was under both tropical storm and extreme heat warnings simultaneously on Wednesday — the first time in at least two decades this has occurred in the region, according to the National Weather Service, which cited records dating back to 2005. Houston also reached a record 102°F on Thursday before Bertha’s cloud cover brought temperatures down to the mid-90s.
2026 Hurricane Season Context
Bertha is the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur, which caused over $1 billion in damages and four fatalities when it struck the Gulf Coast in June. Arthur brought 1-in-1,000-year rainfall amounts to parts of Louisiana, with some areas receiving nearly 30 inches of rain. Mississippi coastal areas were still recovering from Arthur’s flooding when Bertha approached.
According to FOX Weather, Bertha is the first named storm to make landfall in Louisiana since Hurricane Francine struck in September 2024, and only the 10th tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state during July since reliable records began in 1850.
NOAA predicted a below-normal 2026 season in its May outlook, citing expected El Niño conditions that increase wind shear across the Atlantic. As of July 23, the season has produced two named storms and no hurricanes, with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy index of approximately 2.5 units — well below average.
What’s Next
Bertha is expected to move inland over Texas on Thursday evening and dissipate by Friday. The FOX Forecast Center noted that if the storm’s structure remains even somewhat organized, a 3-to-6-hour window exists for very heavy rain between Matagorda Bay and Corpus Christi. Forecasters caution that even in below-normal seasons, the Gulf Coast remains vulnerable to significant weather events, and they urge residents to use Bertha as a preparedness reminder for the months ahead.