Hurricane Local Statement

188
WTUS84 KHGX 231536
HLSHGX
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-300-313-335>338-436>439-232345-

Tropical Storm Bertha Local Statement Advisory Number 17
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX  AL022026
1036 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

This product covers Southeast Texas

**Disorganized Bertha Approaching Southeast Texas** 

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bolivar Peninsula, 
      Brazoria Islands, Chambers, Coastal Brazoria, Coastal 
      Galveston, and Galveston Island

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 100 miles east-northeast of Galveston TX
    - 29.6N 93.2W
    - Storm Intensity 45 mph
    - Movement West or 275 degrees at 10 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

At 10 AM CDT, Tropical Storm Bertha was located along the western
Louisiana coastline as poorly organized and very asymetrical tropical
system. Bertha is still expected to continue moving westward through
an unfavorable environment with high wind shear, dry air, and land
interaction. Bertha is still expected to reach the upper Texas coast
this afternoon as a weak Tropical Storm or Tropical Depression. No
significant impacts to Southeast Texas are expected at this time.
Winds of 20-25 knots with gusts to 40 knots will be possible, mainly along
the coast and Gulf waters throughout today. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms are possible, and could produce locally heavy rainfall
in spots, though the flooding rain threat remains low. There will be a high
risk rip currents across the beaches and coast through Friday.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across 
Southeast Texas. Potential impacts 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.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible 
limited impacts across the Southeast Texas coast. 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. 

Elsewhere across Southeast Texas, little to no impact is anticipated.

* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
There will be a high risk of rip currents across the upper Texas 
coastal beaches through Friday.

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.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets 
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes 
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather 
warnings.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather 
Service in Houston/Galveston TX around 4 PM CDT, or sooner if 
conditions warrant.