Tropical Storm Bertha forms off the Florida coast, prompting storm alerts

A tropical depression that formed over the weekend has strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha, the National Hurricane Center said Monday night.

A tropical storm watch is in effect Monday for parts of the Gulf Coast for the system, which formed Sunday.

As of 8 p.m. ET Monday, Bertha has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It continues to move very slowly at just 3 mph, and the center is located about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida. 

A tropical storm is defined as a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph to 73 mph.

The tropical storm watch has been issued from the Florida panhandle to the southeast Louisiana coast, including Panama City and Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Gulfport, Mississippi.

Tropical storm conditions, including strong winds and rain, are possible in the watch area by late Monday.

Bertha is expected to slowly strengthen over the next few days and move mostly parallel to or along the Gulf Coast. The latest forecast puts the system near or south of New Orleans by Wednesday.

The system is forecast to weaken back to a tropical depression sometime on Thursday and possibly dissipate or become post-tropical by the end of the week as it approaches the Texas coast.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible across Florida Monday night, mostly along the Gulf Coast and panhandle.

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A possible storm surge of 1 to 3 feet could impact the area from Indian Pass, Florida, located about two hours southwest of Tallahassee, to the Chassahowitzka River, about 90 minutes north of Clearwater on the Gulf Coast. The rough surf could produce life-threatening rip currents.

From Monday evening through Wednesday, thunderstorm activity is expected to shift toward southern Alabama and Mississippi. Widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected in the area along the Gulf Coast through Friday, with isolated totals up to 8 inches possible.

The storm could impact the Louisiana coast and the areas of southeast Texas on Wednesday and into Thursday. Tropical storm conditions will be possible from New Orleans to Houston.