TROPICAL STORM BERTHA MOVING OVER SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

August 5, 2002 — At 2 a.m. EDT, the broad center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 29.6 north, longitude 89.8 west or about 35 miles south-southeast of New Orleans, La. Bertha is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. On this track, the broad center of Bertha will be passing near New Orleans during the next few hours and continue over southern Louisiana later Monday, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Bertha taken on August 5, 2002, at 12:15 a.m. EDT. Click here to see latest satellite view.)

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening should begin later Monday morning as Bertha moves over land. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles, mainly northeast of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1010 mb, 29.83 inches.

The primary threat from Bertha is expected to be heavy rainfall and possible inland fresh water flooding. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are possible during the next 24 hours across portions of southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana, with lesser amounts farther east over southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

Storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet is possible in the warning area. A coastal flood watch is also in effect from Alabama eastward to the Florida panhandle. Consult NOAA’s local National Weather Service forecast offices for additional information. Small craft should remain in port in the tropical storm warning area and along the Alabama coast.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Mississippi and southeast Louisiana coasts from Pascagoula, Miss., west and south to the mouth of the Mississippi River, including Lake Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

Hurricane Forecasters Say 6 to 8 Hurricanes Could Threaten in 2002; NOAA Expects Normal to Slightly above Normal Atlantic Storm Activity

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA's Flood Products

NOAA Buoys

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404

 

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