Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf, forecasts warn of flooding - USA Today

Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Gulf on July 20, 2026, intensifying from a tropical depression and becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of the 10 p.m. CDT advisory, Bertha was stationary about 140 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and 215 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
Forecasters expect slow west-northwestward or westward movement over the coming days, with the storm tracking near or along the northern Gulf Coast and some additional strengthening possible through July 21.
Tropical storm watches were posted along the Gulf Coast, and a storm surge watch was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River, with residents in Louisiana and Texas advised to monitor for potential new watches or warnings.
The system is projected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain, with locally higher totals near 8 inches through Friday from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast, raising risks of flash flooding, particularly in urban areas.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva noted the rain would help ease drought in the Florida Panhandle but warned that dry, hardened soil could worsen runoff, while a westward shift toward the Texas Hill Country would heighten flood concerns; forecasters expect a "below-normal" 2026 season due to El Niño.