Alabama, Florida, Mississippi Moderate Tropical Cyclone Local Statement | Effective 07/20/2026 20:21

HLSMOB This product covers portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi. **TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS NOW IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL PORTIONS OF MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Mobile Central, and Mobile Coastal * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch are in effect for Baldwin Coastal and Mobile Coastal - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin Central and Mobile Central - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Escambia Coastal, Okaloosa Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal * STORM INFORMATION: - About 220 miles southeast of Mobile AL or about 180 miles south-southeast of Pensacola FL - 28.2N 85.9W - Storm Intensity 40 mph - Movement Stationary SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ At 10 PM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 220 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama. Bertha continues to meander and is nearly stationary this evening. A slow west-northwest or west motion is expected over the next few days. Bertha is forecast to move across the northern Gulf and into the offshore waters of Alabama and northwest Florida by late Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning before sliding further west of the region. Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph with some additional strengthening possible over the next 24 hours. Primary impacts from Bertha remain focused near the coastline and over the Gulf waters. A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the southern and central portions of Mobile and Baldwin Counties in Alabama with a Tropical Storm Watch further east across coastal portions of northwest Florida. A Storm Surge Watch remains in effect for the Alabama coast for inundation of 2 to 4 feet during periods of high tide Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Storm surge inundation of 1 to 2 feet are possible along the coastline in northwest Florida. While there remains uncertainty in the exact track and intensity of Bertha, dangerous surf and beach conditions are expected. A high risk of deadly rip currents is in effect through much of the week. A High Surf Warning remains in effect Tuesday afternoon into the evening due to surf building to around 10 feet. Tropical storm force winds will be possible primarily along the immediate coastline from Tuesday into Wednesday. While the bulk of the heavy rain is expected to remain over the Gulf, heavy rainfall is possible in any outer rainbands that move ashore. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS: Dangerous surf and beach conditions are expected. A high risk of deadly rip currents continues through much of the week. Surf builds to around 10 feet starting Tuesday afternoon and evening through Wednesday night. * SURGE: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts across coastal Alabama. Potential impacts in this area include: - Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast. - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low spots. - Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and numerous rip currents. - Moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * WIND: Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across coastal areas in Alabama and northwest Florida. Potential impacts in this area include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi.. Potential impacts include: - Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become swollen and overflow in spots. - Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures. * TORNADOES: Little to no impacts are anticipated at this time across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For the latest detailed evacuation and shelter information...please refer to your local emergency management agency at the phone number or website listed below. - Coastal Alabama: - Baldwin County: 251-972-6807 or www.baldwincountyal.gov/departments/EMA - Mobile County: 251-460-8000 or mobilecountyema.gov - Northwest Florida: - Escambia County: 850-471-6400 or myescambia.com/beready - Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5360 www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency - Okaloosa County: 850-651-7150 or myokaloosa.com/emergency-management - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile AL around 4 AM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.