The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Forecast Advisory Number 18 for Tropical Storm Bertha at 9:00 p.m. UTC on Thursday, July 23, 2026, with the storm’s center pinpointed near coordinates 29.8 degrees North, 94.7 degrees West. The position is considered accurate within 30 nautical miles.
At the time of the advisory, Bertha was tracking toward the west-northwest at approximately 11 knots, with a heading of 290 degrees. The storm’s minimum central pressure was estimated at 1006 millibars, and maximum sustained winds were recorded at 35 knots, with gusts climbing as high as 45 knots.
Forecasters noted that wind and sea conditions vary significantly across different quadrants of the storm, with 34-knot winds extending up to 120 nautical miles in both the southeast and southwest quadrants.
Looking ahead, the Hurricane Center’s forecast shows Bertha moving inland and losing tropical characteristics by early Friday morning. By 6:00 a.m. UTC on July 24, the storm is expected to be classified as post-tropical and inland, with maximum winds dropping to 25 knots and gusts around 35 knots. The system is then forecast to fully dissipate by 6:00 p.m. UTC on July 24.
Ships within 300 miles of the storm’s center have been asked to submit reports every three hours. The advisory was prepared by Forecaster Cangialosi, with the next full advisory scheduled for 3:00 a.m. UTC on July 24.
