Active Weather Alerts
Tropical Weather Statement
Issued: 9:21 AM Jul. 21, 2026 – National Weather Service
This product covers portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi. **TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BRING COASTAL AND OFFSHORE IMPACTS LATER TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch are in effect for Baldwin Coastal and Mobile Coastal - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin Central and Mobile Central - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Escambia Coastal, Okaloosa Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal * STORM INFORMATION: - About 170 miles southeast of Mobile AL or about 130 miles south-southeast of Pensacola FL - 28.7N 86.4W - Storm Intensity 50 mph - Movement Northwest or 315 degrees at 5 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Bertha has strengthened slightly overnight and is moving very slowly to the northwest. A general northwest to west-northwest motion is expected today into tonight with the center of Bertha moving into the offshore Gulf waters of northwest Florida and Alabama later today into tonight. The storm will move further west and out of the local area during the day on Wednesday. While some slight strengthening is possible over the next 12 hours, Bertha is likely to weaken some on its closest approach to the local area. Primary impacts from Bertha remain focused near the coastline and over the Gulf waters. Dangerous surf and beach conditions are expected. A high risk of deadly rip currents is in effect through much of the week. A High Surf Warning remains in effect due to surf building to 8 to 11 feet along the Gulf beaches, reaching peak heights tonight into early Wednesday morning. These large breaking waves will result in minor beach erosion, along with flooding of vulnerable areas of the west end of Dauphin Island and the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore. A Storm Surge Watch remains in effect for the Alabama coast for inundation of 2 to 4 feet during high tide Wednesday morning. Storm surge inundation of 1 to 2 feet is possible along the coastline in northwest Florida. Due to the sheared nature of the storm, most of the heavy rainfall will remain well south across the open Gulf. However, locally heavy rainfall cannot be ruled out in any rainbands that approach the coast. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS: Dangerous surf and beach conditions are expected. A high risk of deadly rip currents continues through much of the week. Surf builds to 8-11 feet tonight through Wednesday. * SURGE: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts across coastal Alabama. Potential impacts in this area include: - Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast. - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low spots. - Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and numerous rip currents. - Moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * WIND: Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across the immediate coastal areas of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. Potential impacts in this area 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. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. 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 portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete preparations in accordance with your emergency plan. 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 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 the latest detailed evacuation and shelter information...please refer to your local emergency management agency at the phone number or website listed below. - Coastal Alabama: - Baldwin County: 251-972-6807 or www.baldwincountyal.gov/departments/EMA - Mobile County: 251-460-8000 or mobilecountyema.gov - Northwest Florida: - Escambia County: 850-471-6400 or myescambia.com/beready - Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5360 www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency - Okaloosa County: 850-651-7150 or myokaloosa.com/emergency-management - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile AL around 10 AM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.
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