Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on July 22, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. CDT near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, heavy rain, strong winds, and the potential for isolated tornadoes to parts of the Gulf Coast. Coastal flooding from storm surge was reported, prompting Tropical Storm Warnings for the New Orleans metropolitan area and the Lake Pontchartrain region.
Residents in southeastern Louisiana and portions of coastal Mississippi were advised to prepare for sustained tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall through July 23. In Alabama, dangerous surf and rip current conditions were reported along the Gulf Coast, with double red flags displayed at Orange Beach, indicating life-threatening surf conditions. Waves were expected to reach heights between 9 and 11 feet.
The storm caused significant beach erosion in Alabama, with at least six vehicles submerged on Dauphin Island and flooding leading to road closures. Bertha is the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur in June. Forecasters noted that Bertha remains somewhat disorganized due to strong upper-level winds but is expected to produce hazardous conditions across the Gulf Coast, including damaging wind gusts and storm surge of up to three feet in some areas.