Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens as it nears the northern Gulf coast

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) — Tropical Storm Bertha continues to move across the northeastern Gulf, slowly drifting away from Southwest Florida.

As of Tuesday, 11 a.m. National Hurricane Center advisory, Bertha was located about 110 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 170 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, is moving northwest at 5 mph, and has a minimum central pressure of 998 mb.

Tropical storm watches and warnings remain in effect across portions of the northern Gulf coast.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for portions of the northern Gulf Coast from the Alabama/Florida border westward into southeastern Louisiana, where tropical storm conditions are expected later Tuesday and into Wednesday.

A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Metro New Orleans and portions of southeastern Louisiana, where tropical storm conditions are possible. A Storm Surge Watch also remains in effect from the Alabama/Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River, where life-threatening storm surge is possible.

For Southwest Florida, Bertha will not bring any direct impacts. However, breezy conditions and larger waves will lead to a heightened risk for rip currents over the next few days. The greatest impacts, including tropical storm-force winds, dangerous storm surge, flash flooding, and a few tornadoes, will remain focused along the central Gulf Coast through Wednesday.

The WINK News Weather Authority will continue to monitor Bertha and provide updates as they come in.