Houston weather update as Tropical Storm Bertha hits Louisiana
Houston weather remains in focus as Tropical Storm Bertha, the first landfalling storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, came ashore in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, at 2 p.m. CT on July 22 with 45 mph sustained winds. Forecasters expect the system to track along the upper Texas coast Thursday before weakening inland.
Key Takeaways
- Bertha made landfall near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
- Southeast Louisiana wind reports peaked at 63 mph in Venice, with 52 mph at Bayou Bienvenue and 48 mph at New Orleans Lakefront.
- The National Hurricane Center expects Bertha to stay near tropical-storm strength until the upper Texas coast Thursday, then dissipate over inland Texas by Thursday night or Friday.
- A Tropical Storm Watch covers areas west to Sargent, Texas; communities from Corpus Christi to Galveston should monitor gusty winds and heavy squalls.
- Separately, dangerous flash flooding is escalating across southern Virginia and the Carolinas as a slow-moving front taps tropical moisture.
What happened when Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall?
According to FOX Weather, Bertha officially became the first storm of the 2026 Atlantic season to make landfall when its center crossed the Louisiana coast at 2 p.m. CT on July 22.
It is only the 10th tropical cyclone to make landfall in Louisiana during July since reliable records began in 1850, and the first named storm to hit the state since Hurricane Francine in September 2024.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said preparations included 30,000 sandbags distributed across Orleans Parish and more than 90% of major drainage pumps available. He urged residents not to grow complacent: "It doesn't take a major hurricane to do major damage in communities in Louisiana."
WDSU meteorologists reported the highest local wind readings as Bertha exited southeast Louisiana: Venice at 63 mph, Bayou Bienvenue at 52 mph, New Orleans Lakefront at 48 mph, the Port of New Orleans at 46 mph, and Armstrong International Airport at 41 mph.
How does Houston weather change as Bertha moves west?
For Houston weather planners, the key shift is westward. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Bertha to move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday before moving inland over Texas.
NHC guidance keeps the storm at tropical-storm strength until it reaches the upper Texas coast Thursday, then weakens and dissipates over inland Texas by Thursday night or Friday. A Tropical Storm Watch extends west of Cameron, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas.
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said coastal interests between Corpus Christi and Galveston should stay aware, with tropical-storm-force gusts increasingly likely. Model guidance has shown gusts over 50 mph possible between Port Lavaca and Galveston, with high surf, rip currents, and localized flash flooding also in play.
Bertha was located about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans and 165 miles east-southeast of Lake Charles late Wednesday, moving west at 7 mph with 45 mph sustained winds. Live alert coverage and storm-tracking streams are also rounding up on our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Where else is flooding a threat beyond the Gulf Coast?
A dangerous flash flood threat is escalating across southern Virginia and expanding into North Carolina as atmospheric moisture combines with a slow-moving front. Rain rates of several inches per hour are possible over already saturated soils.
FOX Weather noted a Level 3 of 4 flash flood risk over central and eastern Virginia toward Richmond and the coast, pivoting into central and eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh, by Thursday. Coastal and eastern totals could top 8 inches from Raleigh and the Outer Banks south toward Wilmington and north to Virginia Beach.
West Virginia also faced Flash Flood Emergencies, with damaged bridges, interstate washouts, and more than 25,000 customers without power after severe storms. Officials continue to urge drivers to turn around rather than enter flooded roadways.