NEW ORLEANS — Communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast closed beaches and distributed sandbags as Tropical Storm Bertha moved toward the coast on Wednesday, bringing warnings of flooding, dangerous surf and strong winds from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana.
Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, was forecast to make landfall Wednesday night in coastal Louisiana southeast of New Orleans, according to weather officials. The National Hurricane Center said the storm was producing maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph and was moving westward across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from parts of Florida’s Panhandle westward to Louisiana, including the New Orleans metropolitan area and Lake Pontchartrain. Forecasters warned that coastal areas could experience storm surge, with some locations facing water rises of up to about 4 feet, while rainfall totals of several inches could create localized flash flooding.
Local officials opened sandbag distribution sites in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida as residents prepared for possible flooding. In Mississippi’s Harrison County, officials opened six locations for residents seeking sandbags, county spokesperson Jeff Clark said. Authorities had not ordered evacuations or opened shelters as of Tuesday.
Beach communities also restricted access to coastal waters because of dangerous surf and rip currents. In Florida, some beaches posted red flag warnings, while some areas closed swimming entirely as conditions worsened. Santa Rosa County officials announced closures of Navarre Park Splash Pad and the Navarre Beach Pier because of high winds and deteriorating conditions.
Michael Buchanan, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Louisiana, said wind was expected to be the storm’s main threat as it approached the coast. Forecasts called for tropical storm conditions along parts of the Gulf Coast, with heavy rain and flooding possible through the week.
The storm raised concerns in communities still recovering from earlier severe weather. Tropical Storm Arthur, which affected parts of the southeastern United States in June, caused heavy rainfall and flooding in some areas. Officials said the previous impacts increased attention among residents preparing for Bertha.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast a below-average Atlantic hurricane season, but officials have continued to warn that individual storms can still pose significant risks.
As of Wednesday, authorities continued monitoring Bertha’s path and conditions along the Gulf Coast, with additional updates expected from the National Hurricane Center and local emergency management agencies.
