This NOAA satellite image taken at 11:40 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, shows Tropical Storm Bertha in the Gulf of Mexico moving toward the edge of Louisiana.
Tropical Storm Bertha has made landfall on the southern tip of Louisiana. The storm moving slowly along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday is packing strong winds that extend as much as 100 miles from its center. Damaging wind and storm surge are the main threats for the Deep South states. The National Hurricane Center says a tropical storm warning includes New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Storm surge up to 3 feet is possible, as well as heavy rain. Bertha is expected to weaken as moves toward Texas. The storm earlier forced beach closures in the Florida Panhandle and along the tips of Alabama and Mississippi.
Tropical Storm Bertha brought heavy surf and some flooding to southern Louisiana and Texas as it came ashore on the Gulf Coast before it was downgraded to a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center says wind gusts of tropical storm force were still possible along the upper Texas coast Thursday evening. Heavy rain into the evening may trigger isolated flash flooding. No deaths or significant damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm made landfall for the first time Wednesday as it grazed the Louisiana coast. It came ashore again Thursday near Galveston, Texas.
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 9 PM PDT
SATURDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SIERRA FRONT...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SIERRA
FRONT...
The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which is in effect from
1 PM Friday to 9 PM PDT Saturday. A Fire Weather Watch has also
been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and low
humidity is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Sunday
evening.
* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 420 Northern Sierra Front
including Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Southern Washoe,
Western Lyon, and Far Southern Lassen Counties.
* Winds...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph each afternoon.
* Humidity...Afternoon minimums 7 to 14 percent Friday through
Sunday.
* Duration...3 to 6 hours each afternoon Friday through Sunday.
* Impacts...The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can
cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first
responders can contain them.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry
vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires.
Follow local fire restrictions. Check weather.gov/reno for
updates and livingwithfire.info for preparedness tips.
&&
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 9 PM PDT
SATURDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SIERRA FRONT...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR THE SIERRA
FRONT...
The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which is in effect from
1 PM Friday to 9 PM PDT Saturday. A Fire Weather Watch has also
been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and low
humidity is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Sunday
evening.
* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 420 Northern Sierra Front
including Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Southern Washoe,
Western Lyon, and Far Southern Lassen Counties.
* Winds...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph each afternoon.
* Humidity...Afternoon minimums 7 to 14 percent Friday through
Sunday.
* Duration...3 to 6 hours each afternoon Friday through Sunday.
* Impacts...The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can
cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first
responders can contain them.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry
vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires.
Follow local fire restrictions. Check weather.gov/reno for
updates and livingwithfire.info for preparedness tips.
&&