Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana near New Orleans

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, striking about 40 miles (65 km) east of New Orleans with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). The National Hurricane Center confirmed the landfall in the early afternoon, marking the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

Impact Along the Gulf Coast

Before and after landfall, Bertha triggered widespread closures across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida, with parks, piers, and beachfronts shutting down from the Florida Panhandle all the way to the Mississippi coast. Tropical-storm-force winds extended more than 100 miles from the storm's center, affecting a broad swath of the central Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center warned of a storm surge — abnormal coastal flooding pushed ashore by the storm — of up to 3 feet (90 cm) in some low-lying areas, particularly around bays, inlets, and the Lake Borgne shoreline east of New Orleans.

Rainfall and Flash Flood Risk

The storm was expected to dump 1 to 4 inches of rain across the region, with isolated totals of up to 6 inches possible, particularly in urban areas. Flash flooding was the primary concern inland. The combination of elevated water levels and heavy rain posed particular danger to coastal communities already saturated by weeks of summer humidity and prior storms.

Storm's Path Forward

On its projected track, Bertha's center was expected to move westward along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday before drifting farther inland into Texas on Friday, when it was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression. Officials in both Louisiana and Texas urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to monitor updates and follow evacuation orders if issued.

• Landfall: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, 2 PM CDT (19:00 UTC)
• Max winds: 45 mph (72 km/h)
• Storm surge: up to 3 feet (90 cm)
• Rainfall: 1–6 inches expected
• Projected path: westward along Louisiana/Texas coast