091
WTUS82 KTAE 210004
HLSTAE
FLZ007>019-027>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134-326-426-210815-
TROPICAL STORM BERTHA LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 6A
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL AL022026
804 PM EDT MON JUL 20 2026 /704 PM CDT MON JUL 20 2026/
THIS PRODUCT COVERS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND,
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA
**TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO STRENGTHENS TO TROPICAL STORM BERTHA**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL BAY, COASTAL
FRANKLIN, COASTAL GULF, AND SOUTH WALTON
* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 110 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY OR ABOUT 100 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA
- 28.6N 86.0W
- STORM INTENSITY 40 MPH
- MOVEMENT WEST-NORTHWEST OR 300 DEGREES AT 3 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
...TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO HAS STRENGTHENED TO TROPICAL STORM
BERTHA...
AT 7 PM CDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED 110 MILES
SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY. THE CENTER OF BERTHA HAS BEEN DRIFTING
ERRATICALLY NEAR 3 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR
40 MPH, PROMPTING THE UPGRADE TO TROPICAL STORM BERTHA. BERTHA WILL
MOVE VERY SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH TUESDAY BEFORE TURNING MORE
WESTWARD AND AWAY FROM THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.
AT THIS TIME, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO
REMAIN WELL OFFSHORE OF THE BIG BEND AND EASTERN PANHANDLE COASTS. THE
PRIMARY IMPACTS TO THE LOCAL AREA WILL BE DANGEROUS BEACH CONDITIONS
FROM RIP CURRENTS AND VERY ROUGH SURF, DANGEROUS MARINE CONDITIONS
FROM LARGE WAVES AND STRONG WINDS, GUSTY WINDS IN SQUALLS ACROSS
COASTAL AREAS, AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL, MAINLY FOR AREAS ALONG AND
SOUTH OF I-10 IN FLORIDA. A BRIEF, WEAK TORNADO OR TWO CANNOT BE RULED
OUT ALONG THE FLORIDA BIG BEND COAST.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES, WITH ISOLATED SPOTS NEAR 6 INCHES,
ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF I-10. A STORM SURGE OF 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WILL BE
POSSIBLE AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ALONG THE COAST OF APALACHEE BAY TO
INDIAN PASS AND 1 TO 2 FEET FOR AREAS WEST OF INDIAN PASS.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
PREPARE FOR HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE
COASTAL 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 EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND,
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS
ANTICIPATED.
* FLOODING RAIN:
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND,
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS
INCLUDE:
- LOCALIZED RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT A FEW EVACUATIONS.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY RISE WITH SWIFTER CURRENTS.
SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, 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.
* SURGE:
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS
ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND BIG BEND COASTS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS
IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- LOCALIZED INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING MAINLY ALONG
IMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS, OR IN AREAS
FARTHER INLAND NEAR WHERE HIGHER SURGE WATERS MOVE ASHORE.
- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ROADS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME OVERSPREAD
WITH SURGE WATER. DRIVING CONDITIONS DANGEROUS IN PLACES WHERE
SURGE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
- MODERATE BEACH EROSION. HEAVY SURF ALSO BREACHING DUNES, MAINLY
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOCATIONS. STRONG RIP CURRENTS.
- MINOR TO LOCALLY MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS,
AND PIERS. A FEW SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND,
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS
ANTICIPATED.
* TORNADOES:
PREPARE FOR A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS
THE COASTAL FLORIDA BIG BEND. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS
PULLED FROM MOORINGS.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND,
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS
ANTICIPATED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
KIT AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND SECURE YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS.
WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE
EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS, STORM SURGE, AND TORNADOES EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE
CENTER OF THE STORM.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU ARE
LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS RELATIVE TO CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS. IF
STAYING AT A HOTEL, ASK THE MANAGEMENT STAFF ABOUT THEIR ONSITE
DISASTER PLAN. LISTEN FOR EVACUATION ORDERS, ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO
AREA VISITORS.
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS
OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES
TO THE FORECAST.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- 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 TALLAHASSEE FL AROUND 10 PM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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