The center of Tropical Storm Bertha moved back inland near the border between Texas and Louisiana on Thursday afternoon. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located at latitude 29.9°N and longitude 93.8°W which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) east of Port Arthur, Texans. Bertha was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1004 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Morgan City, Louisiana to Sargent, Texas.
Tropical Storm Bertha was bringing gusty winds to southern Louisiana and eastern Texas on Thursday afternoon. However, the strongest winds were in the southeastern part of Bertha’s circulation. Those winds were occurring over the Gulf of Mexico.
The distribution of wind speeds around Tropical Storm Bertha was very asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the southern part of Bertha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the northern side of Tropical Storm Bertha.
The heaviest rain was falling in thunderstorms located in bands in the southwestern periphery of Tropical Storm Bertha. Those thunderstorms were over the Gulf of Mexico east of Texas. Light to moderate rain was falling over southern Louisiana and eastern Texas from showers and a few thunderstorms in bands closer to the low level center of Bertha’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Bertha will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Southern Plains. The high pressure system will steer Bertha toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha will move inland over eastern and south central Texas.
Tropical Storm Bertha will produce gusty winds over eastern and south central Texas as it moves inland. Thunderstorms, primarily south of the center of Bertha’s circulation, could produce heavy rain in some locations. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some places.