Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish Wednesday afternoon with sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, marking Louisiana’s first direct hit of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
The center of the storm hit land around 2 p.m. near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area and was moving west at 7 mph as of 4 p.m., according to the NHC. It is not expected to bring major weather threats to the New Orleans area, according to the National Weather Service.
Bertha had weakened through much of Wednesday morning after peaking with winds of 60 mph well before landfall.
Still, the system brought gusty winds and some locally heavy rainstorms to much of the region Wednesday. Coastal areas also saw some flooding, as rising waters pushed into roads along the Gulf and in New Orleans’ Venetian Isles neighborhood. Forecasters projected that Bertha could bring 2 to 4 feet of flooding in coastal parishes like Plaquemines, Jefferson, Terrebonne and Lafourche, though the forecast was later lowered to 1 to 3 feet.
Wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported across southeast Louisiana, and a gust of 52 mph near Bayou Bienvenue was the highest recorded on land as of 3:45 p.m., NWS forecasters said.
Tropical Storm Bertha on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
The forecast
Forecasters said strong winds will likely be the primary risk for New Orleans and inland cities across the region, thanks to wind shear that’s helping to push the worst of Bertha’s thunderstorms and rain south over the Gulf.
The strongest of Bertha’s winds are expected to spread onshore over parts of extreme southeastern Louisiana through Wednesday evening as the storm heads west, with scattered gusts of more than 40 mph likely across the south shore. Thursday will also likely see gusty winds throughout the day, according to the NWS.
Peak wind gusts recorded as of 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Bertha is forecast to continue losing strength through the week. After hovering over or near the Louisiana coast through much of Thursday, the tropical storm should make its way to the upper Texas coast by Thursday night, where it will likely dissipate shortly after.
The NHC’s latest track forecast shows Bertha hitting Texas Thursday afternoon as a tropical storm, though forecasters said it could weaken more significantly before then. How quickly the storm weakens depends largely on how long it stays over land, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to Morgan City, including the New Orleans metro and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Morgan City to Sargent, Texas.
A coastal flood warning is in effect for the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.
Plaquemines Parish declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning to mobilize resources for the storm response.
On the bright side, local weather forecasters said Bertha’s cloud coverage had helped cool portions of southeast Louisiana Wednesday, leading to slightly lower than expected “feels-like” temperatures in New Orleans and coastal areas.
135p – North jog in Bertha’s track this AM means cloud cover kept heat index values in some areas more “slightly miserable” than “completely unbearable.” Heat headlines cancelled generally east of I-55 & across south shore. Map is current extreme heat warning & heat index. pic.twitter.com/1BFh48wOWh
— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) July 22, 2026
The 2026 season so far
Bertha follows behind Tropical Storm Arthur, which became the first storm of the 2026 season last month. Arthur dropped several inches of rain on Louisiana and caused minor flooding.
An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or more, according to historical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. The Atlantic season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, with the first named storm typically forming in mid to late June.
On average, the first hurricane forms early to mid-August, and the first major hurricane in late August or early September. Two named storms have usually formed by mid-July.
So far this year, storm formation appears to be right in line with historical trends, though hurricane forecasters at NOAA and research organizations have predicted below-average tropical activity this season due to what could be a record-breaking El Niño event.
NOAA is forecasting eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to three reaching at least Category 3 strength this season.
