Remnants of Bertha Fuel Flood Threat Across Eastern US

Tropical Storm Bertha made a second landfall near the Texas-Louisiana line on Thursday afternoon, July 23, 2026, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, which had sustained winds of 45 mph, weakened to a depression that evening, but its remnants continue to pose a flood threat across the eastern United States. CNN reports that a plume of tropical moisture linked to Bertha is feeding soaking rain along a cold front draped across the Southeast, fueling a flooding rainfall threat through Friday from North and South Carolina to northern parts of Georgia and Alabama.

Flash flood warnings have been issued in multiple states. In North Carolina, heavy rain prompted warnings in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, where up to 6 inches of rain fell in 12 hours, though no flood reports were filed due to drought conditions. In Virginia, flash flood warnings were issued in the southeast, and a section of Interstate 40 northwest of Durham, North Carolina, was closed Thursday morning but has since reopened, according to the state's department of transportation. The KSL article notes that no deaths or significant damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bertha formed on Monday in the Gulf of Mexico south of the Florida Panhandle and made its first landfall Wednesday in Louisiana southwest of New Orleans, causing some coastal flooding. It then made a second landfall near the Texas-Louisiana line on Thursday. The storm's center moved inland about 75 miles northeast of Galveston, Texas. Thick clouds from Bertha prompted SpaceX to postpone a Starship launch from southern Texas, rescheduling for Friday when clear skies are forecast. The National Hurricane Center warned of up to 2 feet of storm surge and isolated flash flooding in coastal and south Texas.

The broader implications of Bertha's remnants highlight how tropical systems can cause flooding far from their center. The storm's moisture is exacerbating rainfall along a cold front, leading to flood threats in areas not directly hit by the storm. With El Niño tightening its grip, the Atlantic hurricane season has started slowly, but Bertha serves as a reminder that even weak storms can have significant impacts. Residents in affected areas should monitor forecasts and be prepared for continued flooding through Friday.