Tropical Storm Bertha fades but fuels serious East Coast flood threat

Tropical Storm Bertha, after making landfall in southeastern Louisiana, is diminishing in strength as it tracks westward along the Gulf Coast. However, its influence is extending hundreds of miles eastward, where a significant flood threat is developing across parts of the U.S. East Coast.

A plume of tropical moisture associated with Bertha is merging with a stalled cold front over the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, specifically impacting southern Virginia, the Carolinas, and northern Georgia. This atmospheric combination is expected to generate heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding through Friday. Forecasters have issued warnings for 2 to 6 inches of rain in these areas, with isolated higher amounts possible, leading to a heightened risk of dangerous flash flooding.