Tropical Depression Two formed over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday, prompting tropical storm and storm surge watches from Florida to Louisiana as forecasters warned of flooding and heavy rain.
The National Hurricane Centre said at 1 p.m. CDT on July 20 11 p.m. Pakistan time, that the depression was 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida. It carried maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and moved northwest at 3 mph.
A tropical storm watch covered the coast from Florida’s Ochlockonee River westward to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana. A storm surge watch extended from the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A tropical depression is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha today, with a threat of heavy rain along the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana and Texas. Dr. Greg Postel has the latest update: pic.twitter.com/PvJFQG9nwb
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) July 20, 2026The centre forecast a peak storm surge of two to four feet between the mouth of the Mississippi River and the Alabama-Florida border. Other coastal areas could receive one to three feet of inundation.
Forecasters expected 2 to 4 inches of rain through Friday from western Florida to the middle Texas coast, with isolated totals near 8 inches. The rainfall could trigger flash flooding, particularly in urban areas.
A band from Tropical Depression Two passing along Treasure Island’s coast. pic.twitter.com/4fcmbN0ykm
— Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) July 20, 2026The depression could strengthen into a tropical storm later Monday or Monday night. It would be named Bertha, the second name on the 2026 Atlantic storm list. Increasing wind shear is expected to limit further strengthening after the system reaches tropical-storm intensity.
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The National Hurricane Centre also warned of life-threatening surf and rip currents along parts of the Gulf Coast. One or two tornadoes were possible across Florida’s Big Bend region.
