Tropical Storm Bertha's track shifts in hurricane center's Tuesday's 4 p.m. update

[00:00:00]4:30 and the Fox 8 weather team issuing a first alert as we track tropical storm Bertha. The storm is strengthening as it approaches the Louisiana coast and meteorologist Nicardo joins us again with an updated look at this track and possible impacts that we could see here.

[00:00:15]Well, the good news is is, you know, we're not canceling things. Tomorrow is likely going to be a pretty normal day for the vast majority of us, especially the farther away you get from the coast, but we are going to see elevated tides along the coastline, breezy, gusty conditions, and there will be a little bit of squaly weather with this. That's what we're going to be taking an eye out for uh as we head into later on in this evening. So, right now, this is what you're looking at. We are continuing to see this storm system move to the west.

[00:00:46]It's been making that slow turn was going more northnorthwest now northwest and we're going to continue to see that drift here as we head into the overnight hours and by tomorrow afternoon we're likely going to have a landfall in here as we go through the evening on Wednesday. You're going to see those winds turn around and then by the time we get into Thursday, this is going to be a memory Thursday afternoon to the evening breaking up. Here's what it looks like right now. Now, we've had some gusty winds out there. And take a look. Panama City Beach, 49, 41. Still getting some of those stronger winds in those squalls that are moving around.

[00:01:26]But one thing you may notice from this radar, a lot of the heaviest rainfall well to the south of the center of the system. So we could see some gusty winds within those squalls, but the vast majority of the area close to that center, everything's pushing south as far as rain is concerned. So it's a blustery day out there at Gulf Shores.

[00:01:49]You can see the seas are rough. You got some squaly conditions as far as the rain is concerned.

[00:01:56]This is about the worst it's going to get and everybody's not going to see this all day. So that's just an idea of what's to come. We do have tropical storm warnings stretching all the way from the Alabama coast and now extended to Morgan City. So that tropical storm warning also now includes the area around the southshore of Lake Pon Train.

[00:02:16]So this was not included in the previous warning. This was a watch, but this is because we're getting closer to the time frame where you start to see some of those issues. And so now that's what puts us into the warning range. Still, you're talking 30 40 mile hour winds.

[00:02:32]This is going to be the key here over the next 24 48 hours. Yes, we could have some blustery weather around, but this is not a major storm, so you can be able to deal with it pretty well. 2 to 4 foot tides. This is a coastal flood warning.

[00:02:47]They actually dropped the storm surge watch. We get those 2 to 4 foot rises a lot when we have easterly winds. So, this is going to be more similar to that. You do have the coastal flood advisory which is going to be that one to three foot range where right along the coast you have some of those low-lying roadways outside of our hurricane risk reduction system meaning outside the levies. That's where you might expect to see some water rising.

[00:03:11]Now gusty conditions, 30 to 50 mileph winds likely just about everywhere. It's going to be in some spots nice and sunny with a little bit of a breeze going. So that's what you're going to be looking for. That is a high level of impact.

[00:03:23]We'll expect that with the coastal flooding as well that 1 to four feet.

[00:03:29]Most of the areas that are on those eastern facing shores around the lake even you're going to see that water rising right at the coastline. Flooding rains not out of the question, but we're taking that down to medium because this is what's happening. Most of our rain is getting pushed south. Yes, there will be some bands. We've seen a little bit of that already today uh more through the river parishes and down into Terabone Parish, but those storms are moving quickly and that bodess well. There is always going to be a risk of severe weather with a landfalling tropical system, but it's a very low risk. So, you may see a tornado warning or two, but overall, this is not going to be widespread. We're not talking uh tons and tons of warnings here as this system comes by. This is what it looks like on satellite and radar. Very messy, very disorganized. Here's the reason for it.

[00:04:15]Now, let's take a look at where that center is. Your visible satellite has really given you a great view of the center of that spin. This is what we're seeing right there. And check out those last few frames just coming in as it is beginning to make more of a western turn. All your big bright cloud tops are well to the south. That's because there's a ton of wind shear with this.

[00:04:36]That's what we've been experiencing is higher levels of the atmosphere. We've got a high pressure system that's off to the north and west and those winds have been pushing those storms away. You can see it on water vapor. There's that northerly flow and this is continuing to not only steer that circulation over to the west, but it's knocking those big cloud tops off and exposing the center.

[00:05:01]One of the reasons this is the strongest the storm is going to get. We're not going to be able to see it do a whole lot more as it is going to make landfall and then interact with the land here, making it a whole lot easier for this to move on. So, right now, we're going to be looking for those impacts into the day tomorrow. We check the timing on this. We'll have these bands continuing into the evening hours. So, if you are under that band right now, yes, you could see a few more of those stronger storms into the evening. We'll lose the heat of the day. You'll lose some of the impact there. And then overnight, this is where you start to see stronger winds coming in out of the north through the midm morning hours. We'll continue to see some banding starting to move in.

[00:05:43]Main part of the midm morning into the afternoon. Right along the coast is where you'd expect to see the worst of this system. Heaviest rainfall, Grand Isle, Port Fuchon down through Terabone.

[00:05:56]Yes, we could see some heavy downpours, but these are going to move fairly quickly, and that's going to be good news for us as far as the possibility of flooding. Yes, you could get a heavy storm, but if we keep it all moving, then we'll be able to move on with the rest of the week. And then look at the forecast there. First alert day tomorrow, lingering in early Thursday.

[00:06:18]Hot and dry. You're going to be complaining about the heat again. So, we get to the end of this forecast.

[00:06:22]>> Look at that. From Wednesday to Friday, what a big change. huge change. All right.