How Tropical Storm Bertha Could Affect the Alabama Coast

Formed in the eastern Gulf, Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to threaten parts of the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana and Texas with heavy rain, gusty winds, and storm surge.

Closer to home, in West and Central Alabama, the National Weather Service in Birmingham reports that “significant impacts to central Alabama are not forecast at this time.”

Bertha is predicted to track westward or west-northwest across the northern Gulf this week.

At 7 a.m., the National Hurricane Center reported that Bertha was about 175 miles southwest of Mobile, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and moving at 5 mph.

For Alabama coastal areas, weather alerts are already in place: a Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Watches, and a High Rip Current Risk.

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Those along the Gulf Coast areas should know that the earliest reasonable arrival of tropical storm-force winds along the Alabama coast could be as early as this evening.

In addition, “Up to 4 feet of storm surge is possible along the Alabama Coast,” said The Weather Channel. Plus, there is the potential for “a few tropical tornadoes or waterspouts are also possible along the northern Gulf Coast this week."

Mary K. – Weather Forecaster

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Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF