Tropical Storm Bertha weakens to tropical depression as all watches, warnings scrapped

Bertha officially weakened to a tropical depression Thursday evening after moving inland across Texas, signaling the end of the system’s brief tropical run as all coastal watches and warnings were lifted.

After re-forming over the northern Gulf, Bertha limped across Texas on Thursday, weakening to maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to continue weakening and likely dissipate later tonight.

Bertha has gradually weakened as it lashed parts of the southwestern Louisiana and Upper Texas coasts with tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding.

As of the NHC’s 8 p.m. ET advisory, Bertha was about 10 miles north-east of Houston, Texas, and is moving west at 13 mph.

Louisiana landfall

Tropical Storm Bertha made an initial landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, around 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

It’s the first named storm to make landfall in Louisiana since Hurricane Francine struck in September 2024 and just the 10th tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state during the month of July since reliable records began in 1850.

Tropical Storm Bertha weakened to a tropical depression with 35 mph winds as it moved inland over Texas, ending all coastal storm warnings. via REUTERS

FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell reported gusty winds along the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi, as Bertha’s center tracked into southeastern Louisiana.

FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray experienced rough surf and 40 mph wind gusts on Dauphin Island, Alabama, early Wednesday.

Bertha moved over the uninhabited Chandeleur Islands, a set of barrier islands that mark the easternmost point of Louisiana, on Wednesday morning.

The National Hurricane Center’s latest update has the storm moving west of Houston at 13 mph as it continues to weaken and could fade out later tonight. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

All Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings discontinued

All Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings that were in effect along the Gulf Coast have since been discontinued, bringing Bertha’s short-lived trek to an official end.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, winds gusted as high as 50 mph along the Texas Coast Thursday afternoon, but that’s expected to quickly decrease after the storm moves ashore.

While it is no longer a tropical storm, swells generated by Bertha will continue to impact the Louisiana and Texas coasts through Thursday night, creating dangerous surf and life-threatening rip current conditions.

The FOX Forecast Center said Bertha reached peak intensity Tuesday as a moderate tropical storm, with the heaviest rain staying offshore.

Meanwhile, the FOX Forecast Center said there is a limited window for remaining rain.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Bertha is expected to bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to 4 inches, through the night along the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas, raising the threat of isolated flash flooding, especially in urban and low-lying areas.

The storm is expected to dissipate quickly Thursday evening as it moves over land, with only a few remnant showers remaining Friday.

Bertha formed Monday in the northeastern Gulf, becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.