Tropical Storm Bertha Forms in Northeastern Gulf of Mexico, Triggers Storm Surge Watch and Warnings

Tropical Storm Bertha formed Monday evening in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Hunter aircraft confirmed Tropical Depression Two had reached tropical storm strength. As of the National Hurricane Center advisory early Tuesday, the center was located at 28.4 degrees north, 86.1 degrees west, about 125 miles south of Panama City, Florida.

Maximum sustained winds measured 50 mph, with the system moving northwest at 2 mph.

The National Hurricane Center issued a storm surge watch from the Alabama-Florida border westward to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Tropical storm warnings cover the same stretch westward to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish line in Louisiana. Watches remain in effect for parts of the Florida Panhandle, metropolitan New Orleans, and additional Louisiana coastal sections.

Forecasters expect the center to reach southeastern Louisiana by late Wednesday before drifting westward along the northern Gulf Coast. The storm is projected to remain a tropical storm rather than intensify into a hurricane and to weaken to a depression by Thursday, possibly dissipating near the Texas coast by the end of the week.

Widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is forecast from western Florida to Texas through Friday, with isolated totals up to 8 inches.

Flash flooding is possible in urban and low-lying areas. Isolated tornadoes could occur across Florida's Big Bend and portions of the northern Gulf Coast through Wednesday. "Under any realistic scenario, Tropical Storm Bertha is predominantly a rainmaker," said Dr.

Ryan Truchelut of WeatherTiger. Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, noted that dry air and hostile wind shear are expected to limit strengthening. Hurricane Fausto strengthened Monday night about 745 miles southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula with 75 mph winds but poses no immediate coastal threat.