Article first published: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 4 p.m. ET

System type: Tropical storm

System name: Bertha

The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Thursday advisory reported that Bertha passed through Louisiana and then headed to Texas. Tropical Storm Bertha is 35 miles north of Galveston, Texas. The system is moving west-northwest at 13 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

“… the center of Bertha will move across portions of eastern Texas during the next several hours,” analysts stated. They also said “Bertha is expected to gradually weaken, and it is forecast to dissipate tonight or on Friday.”

Forecasters alert of a tropical storm warning extended for westward the upper Texas coast.

Changes with this advisory

The Tropical Storm Warning east of the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line has been discontinued.

Warning currently in effect

Tropical Storm Warning for Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas

Meaning of the warning

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions will continue across portions of the Louisiana and Texas coasts within the warning area into the evening.

Storm surge. Water levels may remain elevated through the next high tide cycle along the Louisiana and Texas coastline but should subside thereafter.

Rainfall. Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with isolated totals to 4 inches into tonight along the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.

For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with Bertha, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ero.

Surf. Swells generated by Bertha will continue to affect the Louisiana and Texas coast through tonight. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ripCurrents

Source: National Hurricane Center