Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall near New Orleans on Wednesday, with the storm then moving in the direction of Houston on Thursday. Even so, the forecast suggests the most severe weather tied to the system may not stay close to the Gulf Coast.
Instead, some of Bertha’s harshest impacts are expected much farther inland — more than 800 miles away — in parts of North Carolina and southern Virginia. That unusual setup has drawn attention because the storm’s most dangerous conditions may develop well away from where it first came ashore.
The outlook underscores how a tropical storm’s influence can stretch far beyond its center. Weather tied to Bertha could create significant disruptions across inland areas, even as the storm itself remains associated with the Gulf region.
For communities in the eastern United States, the forecast is a reminder that tropical systems can bring threats far from the immediate landfall zone. In this case, North Carolina and southern Virginia appear to be among the places most closely watched for Bertha-related weather.
