Tropical Storm Bertha Weakens to a Tropical Depression

Tropical Storm Bertha made a second landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border and has since weakened to a tropical depression.

As of 7 p.m. CDT/8 p.m. EDT, Tropical Depression Bertha was located near 29.9N and 95.3W, or about 10 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. Bertha has top sustained winds of 35 mph and is moving west at 13 mph. It has a minimum central pressure of 1007 mb, or 29.74 inches of mercury.

A large area of high pressure is found over the Deep South and Gulf Coast, forcing Bertha westward along the Gulf Coast. Having made landfall in the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area of St. Bernard Parish, La., on Wednesday afternoon, Bertha made a second landfall today near the coastal Louisiana and Texas Border. This landfall was somewhat tough to gauge for experts because of Bertha's wobbling center over the past several hours.

Locally heavy rainfall within squally rain bands and tropical storm-force gusts may occur along parts of the Gulf Coast today. Southwestern Louisiana to the Upper Texas coast will have the greatest risk for gusts exceeding 39 mph and locally heavy rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches. A few spots could be drenched by 2 to 4 inches in far southwestern Louisiana near the storm’s track. If you approach a road covered in water, it is best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

It is time to prepare for the hurricane season. Create a hurricane evacuation box now, before the storm, with bottled water, extra cell phone chargers, food, and clothing. Scope out multiple different evacuation routes in case your preferred route is blocked, or traffic is jammed.