Tropical Storm Bertha approaches Louisiana with potential landfall hours away

NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Bertha is lashing the northern Gulf Coast with tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding from parts of the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana ahead of its expected landfall in southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.

However, beyond landfall, Bertha's future is more uncertain. The entire storm could dissipate over Louisiana or an unusual scenario could unfold, with Bertha's original center potentially dissipating over land while a new center forms offshore within the storm's broader area of thunderstorms.

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If Bertha reforms, it would track farther south and bring tropical downpours to the Corpus Christi, Texas, region with wind and rain as far north as Houston and Galveston.

Bertha formed Monday in the northeastern Gulf, becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM?

Tropical storm conditions are spreading across the northern Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

As of Wednesday morning, Bertha was about 55 miles north-northeast of the mouth of the Mississippi, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, and is moving west at 6 mph.

"The NHC may never officially declare a landfall due to the weak nature of the storm and how lopsided the center is expected to become later this afternoon," the FOX Forecast Center said.

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FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray experienced rough surf and 40 mph wind gusts on Dauphin Island, Alabama, early Wednesday.

Bertha is set to move over the uninhabited Chandeleur Islands, a set of barrier islands that mark the easternmost point of Louisiana Wednesday morning.

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from the Okaloosa-Walton county line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana, indicating that these areas could experience tropical storm conditions over the next 36 hours.

This warning includes New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

WHAT HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS MEAN

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Watches were extended westward and now cover the area west of Morgan City to Sargent, Texas.

A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for southeastern Louisiana and the Mississippi coast, with up to 4 feet of water expected in low-lying coastal areas. 

 WHAT IS STORM SURGE?

Bertha is also bringing life-threatening rip currents along the northern Gulf Coast, as well as parts of the Florida Gulf Coast.

According to the NHC, Bertha is forecast to move west along the northern Gulf Coast, and is expected to make landfall in southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.

TIMELINE: WHEN YOU WILL SEE THE FIRST IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA IN THE SOUTHEAST

The FOX Forecast Center said Bertha reached peak intensity Tuesday as a moderate tropical storm, with the heaviest rain offshore.

"Its lopsided nature means most of the rain will fall on the southern side of the system — well off the coast," the Forecast Center said.

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Meanwhile, Bertha is expected to still bring short, intense downpours over the coastal and inland areas of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The intense rain over a short period of time could trigger low-level flash flooding.

Rain totals of 1 to 4 inches are expected through Thursday, with isolated higher amounts possible. 

This story is developing. Check back for updates.