Tropical Storm Bertha Closes Beaches Along Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Bertha is moving slowly along the Gulf Coast, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region. As of Wednesday morning, the storm was centered about 55 miles northeast of the Mississippi River's mouth, moving west at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. A tropical storm warning is in effect from parts of the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana, including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. The storm is causing beach closures from Florida to Mississippi, with storm surges of up to 4 feet expected in Louisiana. Rainfall totals are forecasted to range from 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts possible. This is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Arthur in June. 
