Tropical Storm Bertha forms, bringing days of rain and storm surge along parts of the Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Bertha formed Monday successful the eastbound Gulf, becoming the 2nd named tempest of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Bertha strengthened from Tropical Depression Two and is expected to bring days of dense rainfall to parts of the Southeast.

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Bertha is located astir 100 miles southbound of the eastbound Florida Panhandle Monday morning, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM?

A tropical storm is simply a benignant of tropical cyclone — a rotating, organized strategy of thunderstorms — with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, making it stronger than a tropical depression.

Tropical Storm Watches expanded Monday greeting on the seashore from the Ochlockonee River successful the Florida Panhandle to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish borderline successful Louisiana, indicating that these areas could acquisition tropical tempest conditions into Tuesday.

Additionally, the NHC warned that the storm surge on the contiguous seashore successful this country could scope 1 to 3 feet.

WHAT IS STORM SURGE?

A Storm Surge Watch was issued precocious Monday greeting from the Alabama-Florida borderline to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, meaning that determination is the anticipation of life-threatening flooding from rising h2o moving inland from the coast. A tempest surge of 2 to 4 feet is imaginable for this area.

In mentation for Tropical Storm Bertha, Chevron said they are suspending immoderate operations, including shutting-in accumulation astatine their Petronius facility, and each associated employees are being moved onshore, according to the company.

"We are besides transporting nonessential unit from our Tubular Bells and Blind Faith platforms. At our onshore facilities, we are pursuing our tempest preparedness procedures and paying adjacent attraction to the forecast and way of the system," Chevron said successful a connection to FOX Weather.

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According to the NHC, Bertha is presently forecast to determination dilatory northwest on the bluish Gulf Coast implicit the adjacent respective days.

However, determination is inactive immoderate uncertainty astir Bertha's forecast track.

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"If the strategy stays weaker and moves inland sooner, the heaviest rainfall would dispersed farther inland crossed parts of the Southeast," the FOX Forecast Center said. 

"If it strengthens and remains implicit the Gulf longer, the heaviest rainfall would enactment person to the seashore earlier gradually shifting westbound on the Gulf Coast aboriginal successful the week."

This 2nd script would bring the heaviest rainfall toward the Middle Texas Coast toward the extremity of the week.

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Meanwhile, forecast models are overmuch much assured that this strategy volition bring periods of dense rainfall to the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend arsenic it passes by.

Rain totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected done the mediate of the week, with isolated higher amounts possible. 

This communicative is developing. Check backmost for updates.