(National Hurricane Center)
Areas of flash flooding will be possible through Thursday along the Gulf Coast and nearby inland locations from Florida’s Big Bend region to southern Louisiana, forecasters said.
Swells generated by Bertha are affecting portions of the Gulf coast of Florida and are likely to spread west during the week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The storm isn’t expected to strengthen further, forecasters said.
“Bertha is being sheared with all of the convection pushed away from the center. Winds are 50 mph in a small area…less than an afternoon thunderstorm,” Denis Phillips, chief meteorologist for Tampa Bay 28, wrote in a social media post, adding, “Conditions are working against Bertha getting much stronger. The Gulf is warm, so we watch for any unexpected changes. Bottom line, mostly rain with a name. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Meteorologist Matt Devitt wrote in a social media post that “despite the upgrade to Bertha, it’s still a weak storm battling shear and dry air.”