SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Tropical Storm Bertha is bringing dangerous surf and strong winds to Southwest Florida, creating hazardous conditions on the water and prompting boating advisories through Wednesday morning. We could still see rip currents on area beaches on Wednesday but they shouldn’t be as prevalent.
The center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 87.2 West, moving toward the northwest near 6 mph. The system is expected to turn west-northwest and west tonight, with continued westward motion forecast through Friday as it moves near or along the northern Gulf Coast.
Dangerous Waves and Rip Currents
High surf is reaching up to 7 feet in some areas, with strong southwest winds gusting between 30 to 35 mph. A small craft advisory remains in effect until approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The biggest danger isn’t just the waves — it’s the rip currents. If you’re caught in one, don’t panic. Stay calm and swim parallel to the shore to escape the current’s grip, then swim back toward the coast. Fighting a rip current directly will exhaust you quickly.
What to Expect
Maximum sustained winds near Tropical Storm Bertha are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected tonight, with gradual weakening forecast Wednesday through Friday.
Wednesday: Winds will begin to diminish but remain breezy. Temperatures will warm to around 80 degrees in the morning, climbing toward the low 90s with heat index values near 105-106 degrees — just below heat advisory levels.
Thursday and Friday: Winds will calm significantly. Conditions will improve with pleasant weather expected. We will see a slightly better chance for a few scattered storms on Friday as an upper level low moves from east to west across south Florida.
Stay Safe on the Water
If you’re planning to head out on the water, wait until after the boating advisory expires Wednesday morning. Conditions will be much safer by midweek. Keep an eye on the First Alert Weather team for updates as Tropical Storm Bertha continues its westward track toward the Gulf Coast.
Chance for some storms move in on Friday as an upper level low moves in(WWSB)
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