New Facts: Bertha Makes Landfall in St. Bernard Parish

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, on Wednesday, July 22, near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area with maximum sustained winds around 45 mph, according to local reports.

Bertha is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur in June, and it formed in the northeastern Gulf before targeting the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana with heavy rain and gusty winds.

Ahead of landfall, the National Hurricane Center extended tropical storm watches and warnings west along the Louisiana coast on July 21, and a storm surge watch was issued for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, meaning possible coastal flooding above normal tides.

As the storm neared the coast, strong wind shear aloft kept much of the heaviest rain and wind over the northern Gulf, limiting some onshore impacts; forecasters in Louisiana expected the largest concentration of rain to remain offshore.

Reports varied on intensity trends: the Mississippi Free Press noted Bertha was gaining strength in the Gulf as it approached, while the Louisiana Illuminator reported it was weakening near the Louisiana coast.

Watches and warnings were posted across the Gulf Coast as rain bands and elevated water levels affected low-lying areas; forecasters expected the system to continue weakening after landfall while flood and surge alerts stayed in place until conditions improved.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources