Tropical Storm Bertha 2026: NHC Data, Timeline & History
Tropical Storm Bertha was the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and one of its more unusual trackers. Instead of recurving out to sea, Bertha spent days grinding westward along the northern Gulf Coast — from the Florida Panhandle to the upper Texas coast — before weakening inland over eastern Texas on July 23, 2026.
Final NHC record (archived): Bertha was a tropical storm that moved generally westward near or along the northern Gulf Coast for several days. It produced tropical-storm-force winds, coastal flooding, and locally heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to the upper Texas coast before dissipating inland over eastern Texas.
Jul 19, 2026System organizes in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and is designated the season's second named storm, Bertha.
Jul 21, 2026Bertha sits beneath strong shear near the Florida Panhandle; recon places the center near Panama City, Florida.
Jul 22, 2026Bertha reaches peak intensity near 50 mph and wobbles just south of the Mississippi coast, spreading tropical-storm conditions westward.
Jul 23, 2026 (AM)Center nears the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts at 45 mph as the system turns west-northwest.
Jul 23, 2026 (PM)Bertha moves inland over eastern Texas at 40 mph and dissipates, ending a slow coastal grind.
Impacts
What Bertha 2026 Did
A westward track is the story
Most Gulf systems are steered north or northeast. Bertha instead rode the southern edge of a strong high over the south-central United States, sliding west along the coast for days. That kept tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding threats active across a long stretch of shoreline rather than concentrating them at one landfall.
Coastal flooding and surge
Storm surge of 1–4 feet was forecast from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Mississippi/Alabama border, with 2–4 feet possible there and around Lake Pontchartrain. The surge depended heavily on timing with the tidal cycle, a reminder that even modest surge can flood low coastal roads and infrastructure.
Rain and a few tornadoes
Bertha produced 1–4 inches of rain with isolated 6-inch totals along the Texas and South Texas coast, enough for isolated urban flash flooding. A few tornadoes were possible from the upper Texas coast into southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle as the system tracked west.
How 2026 Bertha compares with past Bertha storms
Bertha has appeared as a Gulf hugger, a South Carolina landfaller, and an open-Atlantic hurricane. The 2026 version's slow westward coastal path stands apart from its predecessors, detailed below.
Historical Bertha storms
2020 · Tropical Storm
The 2020 Bertha formed off the Southeast coast on May 27 and made landfall near Isle of Palms, South Carolina, just one hour after being named.
Peak winds
50 mph
Min pressure
1005 mb
Landfall
Isle of Palms, SC
Notable
1 death; ~$133k damage
2020 Bertha was a quick South Carolina landfall; 2026 Bertha was a multi-day Gulf Coast grinder with no single concentrated landfall.
2008 · Category 1 Hurricane
Bertha 2008 was a long-lived July Cape Verde hurricane that became the longest-lived July Atlantic storm on record, remaining mostly over open water.
Peak winds
80 mph (Cat 1)
Track
Open Atlantic
Landfall
None
Notable
Record-long July lifetime
2008 Bertha was a powerful open-ocean system; 2026 Bertha was a weak, coast-hugging tropical storm that never reached hurricane strength.
Forecast context
Bertha 2026 Forecast Discussion
NHC track and intensity forecast
Forecasters expected Bertha to stay in a hostile environment of strong shear and dry mid-level air, limiting intensification. The official track kept the center near or along the northern Gulf coast, then inland over Texas — a forecast verified as the storm moved west instead of recurving.
Why a weak storm still needed warnings
Even at tropical-storm strength, Bertha's long coastal residence meant repeated wind, surge, and rain exposure for the same communities. NWS offices issued coastal flood warnings and tropical-storm warnings that shifted westward day to day.
Preparedness
Lessons From Bertha 2026
Plan for a slow, lingering storm
Bertha showed that a storm does not need to be strong to affect you for days. Keep supplies, medications, and backup power ready for a multi-day event, not just a 24-hour window.
Watch the surge timing, not just height
Coastal flooding from Bertha varied sharply with tide. Learn your evacuation zone and heed NWS coastal flood warnings even when winds are only tropical-storm force.
Don't ignore the tornado threat
Weak tropical systems can still spin up tornadoes far from the center. Have multiple ways to receive NWS warnings and a safe interior room identified.
Yes. Bertha (AL022026) was the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic season, following Arthur.
Why was Bertha's track unusual?
Instead of moving north or northeast, Bertha tracked generally westward along the northern Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, a path steered by a strong high over the south-central United States.
Did Bertha make landfall in 2026?
Bertha moved inland over eastern Texas on July 23, 2026, after days near the Gulf Coast, rather than making a single concentrated landfall.
How does 2026 Bertha differ from 2020 Bertha?
2020 Bertha made a quick landfall near Charleston, South Carolina, while 2026 Bertha was a slow, coast-hugging Gulf system that lasted several days.
Where can I verify Bertha's official data?
The NHC public advisories and the Tropical Cyclone Report archive linked on this page provide the authoritative record for Bertha.