Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall on southern Louisiana with threatening winds

By — John Seewer, Associated Press John Seewer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/tropical-storm-bertha-makes-landfall-on-southern-louisiana-with-threatening-winds Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall on southern Louisiana with threatening winds Nation Jul 22, 2026 6:09 PM EDT Tropical Storm Bertha crawled into southern Louisiana on Wednesday, making landfall and packing strong winds far from its center after closing beaches from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi. The National Hurricane Center said Bertha made landfall in the afternoon in St. Bernard Parish, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of New Orleans. At landfall, the storm's maximum sustained winds were around 45 mph (72 kph). Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. The wind and storm surge were the main threats for the Deep South states. Parks and piers were closed up and down the coast, as were some low-lying roads. A tropical storm warning stretched from Alabama to Louisiana, including New Orleans where extreme heat was adding to misery. Tropical storm force winds were felt as much as 160 miles (260 kilometers) from the center of the storm, the National Hurricane Center said. A wind gust of 44 mph (71 kilometers) was recorded at New Orleans Lakefront Airport on Wednesday afternoon. WATCH: News Wrap: Gulf Coast prepares for Tropical Storm Bertha But the heaviest rains were staying offshore, reducing the risks of flooding, the center said. The storm will weaken now that it's reached land and is unlikely to leave behind widespread damage, Louisiana State Climatologist Jay Grymes said. The impact should be manageable for coastal communities, he said. Gov. Jeff Landry called the forecast "encouraging" but also warned residents to be prepared for some flooding. Storm surges up to 3 feet (1 meter) were possible in Louisiana and Alabama, forecasters said. Rain totals were forecast between 1 and 4 inches (3 to 10 centimeters), with higher amounts possible in isolated areas. READ MORE: Tropical Storm Bertha forecast to bring heavy rain, flooding along the Gulf Coast Bertha is expected to maintain tropical storm intensity until it reaches the Texas coast on Thursday, the hurricane center said. Elsewhere in the U.S., a line of storms on Tuesday generated reports of tornadoes stretching from Cincinnati to New Jersey. Torrential rains caused flash floods that swamped homes, washed out bridges and led to water rescues in West Virginia, authorities said. Rare combination of tropical storm and heat warnings Southern Louisiana was under tropical storm and extreme heat warnings for much of Wednesday — a rare double dose of suffering, the National Weather Service said. It was the first time in at least two decades that's happened in the area, the weather service said, citing records that date b