Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in St. Bernard Parish, weakens on its way west

This report has been updated based on the 4 p.m. Wednesday advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Bertha is slogging through coastal Southeast Louisiana after making landfall in St. Bernard Parish early Wednesday afternoon. The system is expected to weaken and drag westward along the Gulf Coast through the next two days.

In its 4 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center measured Bertha’s maximum sustained winds at 45 mph when it was located 25 southeast of New Orleans. The storm was moving west at 7 mph.

Minor flooding has been reported in coastal areas of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes and in far eastern New Orleans neighborhoods beyond the storm protection system.

Gov. Jeff Landry said Louisiana avoided the “worst-case scenario” with Bertha, which provided officials with an exercise opportunity before the peak of hurricane season arrives in late August.

“Today’s forecast is encouraging, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be complacent,” Landry said.

The largest concentration of rain from the tropical storm is expected to fall over the northern Gulf of Mexico, though the National Hurricane Center says the potential for isolated flash flooding remains especially in urban areas. Forecasters say the system should retain tropical storm strength through Thursday. 

Ahead of Bertha’s arrival, the following schools altered their schedules for Wednesday. Southern University of New Orleans, Loyola University, LSU New Orleans and Xavier University will hold remote classes, and Dillard University has closed. Delgado Community College closed its campuses at 1o a.m. Wednesday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to Cameron, Louisiana, including the metropolitan New Orleans area and Lake Pontchartrain. In addition, a tropical storm watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas and from Cameron west to Sargent, Texas.

Tidal surge was expected to reach 1 to 3 feet from the Alabama-Florida line to Port Bolivar, Texas. 

Bertha is expected to weaken as its makes its way along the Louisiana coast and heads toward a second landfall in southeast Texas late Thursday.