Bertha drifts west along Gulf Coast, prompting tropical-storm warnings

Tropical Storm Bertha weakened but continued a slow westward crawl along the Gulf Coast, with tropical-storm warnings in effect from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana and watches further west. Maximum winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, potential 2–4 foot storm surge from the mouth of the Mississippi to the LA border, and 1–4 inch rain (locally up to 6 inches) are expected as Bertha nears Texas; forecasters say it will likely weaken and could move inland over Texas in about 48 hours, becoming post-tropical thereafter while the hurricane season outlook remains below average.