Tropical Storm Bertha, as seen in this weather satellite photo taken Thursday morning, was churning off the Texas Gulf Coast.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the upper Texas Coast as Tropical Storm Bertha approaches, marking the biggest forecast change since Wednesday.
The warning replaced the tropical storm watch issued Wednesday and extends from the Louisiana coast southwest to Sargent, near Matagorda Bay, including Galveston Bay and much of the upper Texas Coast.
No significant changes were made to the forecast overnight in regards to TS Bertha. Primary issues will be some wind gusts to lower end tropical storm strength along some of our coastal counties. Further inland, some 20-30mph gusts can be anticipated as the day progresses. pic.twitter.com/XxyQEhGTc4
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) July 23, 2026
For the Houston area, the forecast remains largely unchanged. Bertha’s heaviest rainfall and strongest thunderstorms are still expected to remain south of the metro area, keeping the risk of widespread flooding and tornadoes low. Instead, Thursday’s primary threats will be occasional tropical wind gusts, minor coastal flooding and dangerous surf along Gulf beaches.
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TRACK BERTHA: Follow the path of the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
Bertha was located about 70 miles southeast of Lake Charles Thursday morning with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm is expected to remain a tropical storm as it reaches the upper Texas Coast later Thursday before weakening quickly inland overnight.
Tropical storm warning now in effect for the upper Texas Coast
The upgrade from a tropical storm watch to a tropical storm warning reflects increasing confidence that parts of the upper Texas Coast will experience tropical-storm conditions today.
Tropical storm warnings, shown here on this map in blue, are in effect along the upper Texas coast Thursday ahead of Bertha’s arrival.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center
Tropical Storm Bertha’s forecast cone is shown on this map from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Tropical-storm-force winds extend out from Bertha’s center 160 miles, indicated by the orange circle.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center
As Bertha moves through Southeast Texas Thursday evening, tropical downpours are expected, especially near and south of Houston. Heavy rainfall could result in brief but minor street flooding.
Pivotal Weather
Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to produce tropical-storm-force wind gusts Thursday night along the coast, as shown by this wind gust forecast map of Southeast Texas.
Pivotal Weather
The warning covers the coast from Sargent eastward through Galveston Bay and into Louisiana. While much of inland Southeast Texas remains outside the warning area, occasional tropical wind gusts will still spread well inland as Bertha approaches.
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When Bertha’s effects hit Southeast Texas
Most of Bertha’s effects are expected during a roughly 12-hour window from midday Thursday through around midnight, with the strongest gusts expected from late afternoon into the evening as Bertha makes its closest approach before weakening inland overnight.
This image shows how future weather radar could look Thursday night, at left, and wind gusts, at right, as Tropical Storm Bertha pushes through Southeast Texas.
Pivotal Weather
Rain won’t be continuous, but the best chance for tropical downpours will come between 3 and 9 p.m. A few heavier bands could briefly reduce visibility and leave water pooling on roads during the evening commute.
The weather should improve overnight as Bertha weakens over Texas, with winds easing and rain tapering by early Friday.
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Where Bertha’s strongest winds are expected Thursday
While gusty winds will extend well inland, the strongest winds are expected along the immediate coast, especially from coastal Brazoria County through Galveston County into Chambers County.
BERTHA’S FIRST LANDFALL: Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana Wednesday. Here’s where.
Along the immediate coast, occasional wind gusts between 40 and 45 mph are possible, particularly within rain bands.
Farther inland, including much of the Houston metro area, gusts of 30 to 40 mph are possible as bands of showers move through. While these winds will be brief rather than continuous, they’re strong enough to break small tree limbs, blow around unsecured outdoor furniture and cause isolated power outages.
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Outside of the rain bands, winds will generally remain much lighter.
Why Southeast Texas is on Bertha’s ‘dirty side’
Although Bertha’s center is expected to track near the upper Texas Coast, Southeast Texas will spend much of Thursday on the storm’s “dirty side,” or on the right-hand side of the direction it is moving, which in this case is north of Bertha’s center.
In the Northern Hemisphere, tropical systems rotate counterclockwise. The storm’s forward motion adds to that circulation on the right side of its track, making winds, storm surge and surf strongest there. Because Bertha is moving nearly due west, that places the strongest winds north of the center — over much of Southeast Texas.
No significant changes were made to the forecast overnight in regards to TS Bertha. Primary issues will be some wind gusts to lower end tropical storm strength along some of our coastal counties. Further inland, some 20-30mph gusts can be anticipated as the day progresses. pic.twitter.com/XxyQEhGTc4
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) July 23, 2026
Bertha is also unusually lopsided. Dry air and wind shear have pushed most of the heavier rain south of the center, reducing the flood threat for Houston while still allowing gusty winds to spread well inland.
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The result is a much different storm than Tropical Storm Arthur, the only other tropical storm to affect Southeast Texas this season. Arthur arrived after days of heavy rainfall from a stalled front and produced more flooding rain as it came ashore near Matagorda Bay. Bertha, by contrast, is moving into a much drier environment, making gusty winds, rough surf and minor coastal flooding the primary concerns instead of widespread flooding.
For most of Southeast Texas, that means Bertha’s arrival on Thursday might be remembered more for the wind than the rain.