…TROPICAL STORM WATCHES EXTENDED WESTWARD ALONG THE EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND UPPER TEXAS COASTS…
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was about 45 miles (75 km) northeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Bertha is moving toward the west near 5 mph (7 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday with a little acceleration. On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days.
Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next several days.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center. A wind gust to 49 mph (79 km/h) was recently reported at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
WIND: Tropical storm conditions will continue spreading across portions of the northern Gulf Coast within the warning area today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Louisiana by tonight and along the upper Texas coast by Thursday or Thursday night.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA to MS/AL Border…2-4 ft
Port Bolivar, TX to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA…1-3 ft
MS/AL Border to Okaloosa/Walton County Line, FL…1-3 ft
Lake Pontchartrain…1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals to 6 inches through Thursday along the central to the western Gulf Coast from western Florida to southern Texas. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.
SURF: Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Next complete advisory at 10:00 AM CDT/11:00 AM EDT.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Bertha Extends Tropical Storm Watches West to Texas Coast.