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A tropical depression that formed in the Gulf on Sunday, July 19 is expected to quickly strengthen into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. If the depression does become a tropical storm, it would be named Bertha.
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According an NHC advisory on Monday morning, July 20, the system was located about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph with higher gusts. The NHC said gradual strengthening is forecast, with the depression expected to become a tropical storm later Monday.
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.
Forecasters said the system is expected to move slowly northwestward during the next day or so, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest or west.
“On the forecast track, the depression will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next several days,” forecasters said in the advisory.
The NHC said the system is expected to produce rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher totals around 6 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.
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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.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Bertha could soon form in the Gulf. See tracker
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Reporting by Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 20, 2026 at 6:03 AM.