Tropical Storm Bertha moved across southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Bertha’ was located at latitude 29.4°N and longitude 91.1°W which put the center about 75 miles (120 km) southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. Bertha was moving toward the west-southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1002 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from the Mississippi/Alabama border to Sargent, Texas. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for New Orleans. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Lake Pontchartrain.
Strong northeasterly winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere appeared to be blowing the middle and upper parts of Tropical Storm Bertha to the southwest of the surface circulation. The center of the surface circulation was south-southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the southwestern part of the surface circulation around Tropical Storm Bertha. Bands in the other parts of Bertha’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. It is possible that a new center of circulation could develop closer to the area of showers and thunderstorms.
The strongest winds were occurring in the southeastern part of Tropical Storm Bertha. Those winds were occurring over the Gulf of Mexico. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the southern side of Bertha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the northern side of Tropical Storm Bertha.
Tropical Storm Bertha will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 18 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 is likely to continue to weaken during the next 18 hours unless a new center of circulation forms near the thunderstorms over the Gulf of Mexico.
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 eastern Texas south of Galveston on Thursday evening.
Tropical Storm Bertha will bring gusty winds to the northwestern Gulf Coast. Bertha could drop locally heavy rain over parts of southern Louisiana and eastern Texas.