Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, brought heavy rain and high surf to the Gulf Coast.
A low-pressure system developed in the northeastern Gulf on July 19, 2026, and was named Tropical Storm Bertha the following day.
Bertha drifted westward along the northern Gulf coast throughout the week. Despite unfavorable environmental conditions, it strengthened into a moderate tropical storm, reaching peak winds of 60 mph.
The storm then moved slowly west before making its first landfall on July 22 near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Bertha later made a second landfall near the Texas-Louisiana state line on Thursday.
Its center came ashore that afternoon about 75 miles northeast of Galveston, Texas, and the storm dissipated by evening.
Before it was officially named, Bertha brought heavy rain, rough surf, and high tides to Florida’s west coast. Unfortunately, these conditions coincided with the peak of sea turtle nesting season, and many nests were washed away by the tides.
Moisture from Bertha, interacting with a separate weather system, brought heavy rain and flooding to areas far from the Gulf. Charleston, West Virginia, received 4 to 7 inches of rain in a short period Tuesday afternoon. By Thursday, parts of the Ohio River Valley and Mid-Atlantic had recorded several inches of rainfall prompting Flood Watches.
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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