Path tracker: Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf

Editor's Note: Tropical Storm Bertha continues on its path. See the latest update for Tuesday, July 21.

A tropical depression that formed in the Gulf has now strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A NHC advisory issued the evening of July 20 stated that Bertha is located about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. It added that "additional strengthening is possible."

A tropical storm watch is in effect for a large chunk of the Gulf Coast, from the Ochlockonee River west to the Mississippi/Alabama border, according to the hurricane center. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Center said that Bertha has been "drifting erratically" but the storm is expected to move to the northwest and west. "On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days," the advisory reads.

The NHC said the system is expected to produce rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher totals around 8 inches, through Friday along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida to the Middle Texas coast, including southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The rainfall may produce flash flooding, especially in urban areas.

Swells generated by the system are also expected to affect portions of the Gulf coast of Florida and are likely to spread westward during the week, the NHC said, with the swells likely to cause "life-threatening" surf and rip current conditions.

Atlantic storm tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Tropical Depression Two spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

This story has been updated with new information

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].