Tropical Storm Bertha weakened on Wednesday morning as it moved toward southeastern Louisiana. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located at latitude 29.9°N and longitude 89.1°W which put the center about 60 miles (95 km) east of New Orleans, Louisiana. Bertha was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from the Alabama/Florida border to Morgan City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for New Orleans. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Lake Pontchartrain.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Morgan City to Sargent, Texas.
Tropical Storm Bertha weakened on Wednesday morning because of strong northeasterly winds in the upper troposphere. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear, and the wind shear was causing Bertha to weaken. The vertical wind shear was also affecting the structure of Tropical Storm Bertha. Most of the bands revolving around the center of Bertha’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the far southwestern part of Tropical Storm Bertha. There were no thunderstorms near the center of Bertha to generate upper level divergence. Convergence of mass in the lower atmosphere was causing the surface pressure to increase.
Tropical Storm Berta was still producing sustained winds to tropical storm force. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) in the eastern side of Bertha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the western side of Tropical Storm Bertha.
Tropical Storm Bertha will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bertha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under southeastern part of an upper level ridge that is centered over the South Central U.S. The upper level ridge will produce strong northeasterly winds that will blow across the top of Bertha’s circulation. Those upper level winds will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Bertha will continue to weaken during he next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Bertha will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the southern Mississippi River Valley. The high pressure system will steer Bertha toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha will move over southeastern Louisiana in a few hours.
Tropical Storm Bertha will bring gusty winds to the central Gulf Coast. Since the strongest winds are in the southern part of Bertha’s circulation, those winds will remain over the Gulf of Mexico during the next 24 hours. Bands on the northern side of Tropical Storm Bertha could drop locally heavy rain over parts of southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, and southern Louisiana. Bertha could also cause a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter) along parts of the coast of southeastern Louisiana.
