Tropical Storm Bertha weakens inland over Texas; 45 mph winds, 1-2 feet storm surge forecast
As of 1:00 PM CDT July 23, Tropical Storm Bertha was located 40 miles southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and minimum central pressure of 1004 mb, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving westward at 10 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend 160 miles south of center.
Tropical Storm Bertha lost its tropical cyclone structure and degenerated into a trough by 10:00 PM CDT on July 23, 2026, according to the National Hurricane Center's final advisory on the system. At that time, the remnants were located approximately 40 miles west-northwest of Houston, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1008 mb.
The National Hurricane Center stated this would be its last formal advisory on Bertha. The system was moving westward at 14 mph. No coastal watches or warnings remained in effect as of the final advisory.
Despite Bertha's structural breakdown, the remnants pose continuing hazards to South Texas through the overnight hours. Per the National Hurricane Center, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected over South Texas tonight, with isolated areas receiving up to 4 inches. The agency cautioned that this rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, particularly in urban areas where drainage systems can be overwhelmed by sudden heavy precipitation.
Water levels along the Louisiana and Texas coastline are expected to remain elevated through the next high tide cycle before subsiding, according to the National Hurricane Center. Swells generated by the remnants will continue to affect the Louisiana and Texas coast through tonight, the agency stated, and are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The rapid inland weakening marks a shift from when Bertha was a more organized system with stronger winds. However, the National Hurricane Center's emphasis on rainfall risk and elevated water levels underscores that the dissolution of the storm structure does not eliminate all weather impacts to the region.
Tropical Storm Bertha, positioned 40 miles southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana, carries 45 mph winds and is forecast to produce 2-4 inches of rainfall with isolated totals to 6 inches across the Texas Gulf Coast through Thursday night, per the National Hurricane Center.
The end of the National Hurricane Center's formal tropical cyclone advisories signals the structural collapse of Bertha, but rainfall and coastal water level impacts remain the focus overnight. Watch for localized flash flooding reports in South Texas urban areas and elevated surf hazards along the Gulf Coast through the next high tide cycle.
Every story, sourced. Every source, rated.
Sources
- nhc.noaa.gov unrated
Single-source report. As published, only nhc.noaa.gov had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
Outlet ratings are the public AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check charts' calls, not ours.
GoCheckMyNews reports events. It does not editorialize and it does not advise. Nothing here is political advocacy, legal advice, or financial advice.