NEW ORLEANS, July 21 (DC Times Online) — Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to stay a Gulf Coast story for the next several days, but Texas could still feel the storm if the track shifts west. Forecasts cited by weather services say the system could send heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf toward the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana, and possibly the Texas coast later in the week.
For Texans, the key issue is timing and uncertainty. The latest forecast cited in the reports said Bertha could move toward southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi by Wednesday, weaken into a tropical depression, and either dissipate over Louisiana or reach the Upper Texas Coast by late week. AccuWeather said a “hug-the-coast” track would keep overall winds weaker, while still allowing heavy rain to build along the central Gulf Coast before spreading inland.
A tropical storm watch means tropical-storm conditions are possible within 24 to 48 hours. The watch cited in the reports covered the Florida Panhandle coast from the Ochlockonee River west to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana. The reports did not name any Texas county or coastal jurisdiction under a watch or warning, which leaves Texas in the possible-impact zone rather than the area under the clearest current alert.
What could Texas see if Bertha tracks farther west? AccuWeather said heavy rain, gusty winds and potentially damaging surf could spread into Texas, including central Texas. It forecast 1 to 4 inches of rain widely, with pockets of 4 to 8 inches, and said tropical-storm-force gusts of 40 to 60 mph could occur along the Interstate 10 corridor, with stronger gusts possible in isolated spots. Those impacts depend on how close the storm stays to the coast and how much it weakens before reaching Texas.
Storm surge is another concern along the Gulf Coast. Forecasters cited in the reports expected some coastal flooding from Monday night through at least midweek, and a storm surge watch was already in effect farther east, from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Florida border. Storm surge is the rise in seawater pushed inland by wind, and even a few feet can flood low-lying roads and property near the coast.
For Texas residents, the practical step is simple: keep checking official forecasts and local alerts through midweek, especially if you live or travel near the coast. Small changes in Bertha’s track could mean the difference between a rainy, windy weekend and only minor effects farther inland.
