MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to remain offshore as it passes the Florida Panhandle Gulf Coast, along with its strongest winds. But peripheral impacts including dangerous beach conditions and minor coastal flooding as well as dangerous marine conditions are expected overnight. Isolated areas could see rainfall up to four inches through Wednesday.
Right now (4 pm CT) Bertha is centered about 105 miles WSW of Panama City, with top winds of 60. Gusts as high as 57 mph have been reported at Panama City Beach.
Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREADING WESTWARD ALONG COASTAL
PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...
...TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS EXTENDED WESTWARD ALONG THE
LOUISIANA COAST...
SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.4N 87.2W
ABOUT 105 MI...170 KM WSW OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 105 MI...170 KM SSE OF MOBILE ALABAMA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.39 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended westward to Morgan
City, Louisiana.
The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm
Warning for Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
The Tropical Storm Watch has been extended westward to Cameron,
Louisiana.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana
* Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* West of Morgan City, Louisiana, to Cameron, Louisiana
* Lake Maurepas
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 24 to 48
hours.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was
located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 87.2 West. Bertha is
moving toward the northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A turn toward the
west-northwest and west is expected tonight, with a continued
westward motion forecast Wednesday through Friday. On the forecast
track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during
the next couple of days or so.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts.
Little change in strength is expected tonight, and gradual weakening
is forecast Wednesday through Friday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km)
from the center. A National Ocean Service station in Panama City
Beach, Florida, reported sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) and a
gust of 57 mph (92 km/h) during the past few hours.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Tropical Storm Bertha can be found in the Tropical
Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header
WTNT42 KNHC.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions will continue spreading across
portions of the northern Gulf Coast within the warning area tonight
through Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within
the watch area in Louisiana by Wednesday night.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will
cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA to MS/AL Border...2-4 ft
Cameron, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA...1-3 ft
MS/AL Border to Aucilla River, FL...1-3 ft
Lake Pontchartrain...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast.
Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge
and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For
information specific to your area, please see products issued by
your local National Weather Service forecast office.
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation,
please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?peakSurge.
RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2
to 4 inches with isolated higher totals around 6 inches through
Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida into
southern Louisiana. This rainfall may produce isolated flash
flooding, especially in urban areas.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with
Bertha, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall
Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?rainqpf and
the Flash Flood Risk graphic at
hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ero.
SURF: Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward
along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days. These swells
are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found
at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ripCurrents
Photo Credit: NHC