Tropical Storm Bertha moves toward Texas coast after Louisiana landfall

Tropical Storm Bertha weakened into a trough and moved into Southeast Texas by Thursday evening, ending its run as a named tropical system. The National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory on Bertha at 10 p.m. CDT Thursday, July 23, marking the end of official monitoring for the storm.

When the National Hurricane Center released its last advisory, the remnants of Bertha were positioned about 40 miles west-northwest of Houston, Texas, according to the agency's statement. Maximum sustained winds had dropped to 35 mph with higher gusts, and the central pressure measured 1008 millibars (29.77 inches), per the advisory.

The system was moving westward near 14 mph and no coastal watches or warnings remained in effect, the National Hurricane Center stated. Water levels were expected to remain elevated through the next high tide cycle along the Louisiana and Texas coastline but to subside thereafter, the agency said.

Rainfall from the remnants was forecast to produce 1 to 3 inches over South Texas with isolated totals reaching 4 inches through the night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The agency cautioned that this rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas. Separately, swells from the system were expected to continue affecting the Louisiana and Texas coast through the night and likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the National Hurricane Center warned.

No open disagreement or alternative assessment of Bertha's current status or trajectory appears in the available record. The National Hurricane Center's assessment stands as the official U.S. forecast and tracking authority.