NWS officials said flooding risk across Houston are still low based on data models. (Courtesy Harris County Precinct 4)
Officials with the National Weather Service issued tropical storm watches for portions of southeast Texas as Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to make landfall by the end of the week.
What we know
Tropical Storm Bertha maintained strength overnight according to data from the NWS, but is still expected to not strengthen beyond a tropical storm before making landfall across Louisiana and Texas. However, officials said the storm itself should not cause significant impact to the region.
"Bertha will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms through the day, but the threat for excessive rainfall/flash flooding is marginal," NWS officials said in a July 22 news release. "While there is not a storm surge risk, there is a threat of minor coastal flooding.
Officials with the National Weather Service have issued tropical storm watches along the Gulf Coast. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
The storm watch along the Texas coast is in effect until 6 a.m. July 24 unless it is extended.
What's being done?
NWS officials urged residents along the coast in Brazoria, Chambers and Galveston counties to continue any storm preparations before Bertha makes landfall.
CenterPoint Energy officials are also monitoring Tropical Storm Bertha and have completed preparations in the event of widespread and localized power outages.
“Re-affirming our all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness, our team continues to take critical actions to prepare for the both the current Tropical Storm Bertha in the Gulf as well as the hottest temperatures of the season, including activating our Emergency Operations Center and mobilizing more than 1,050 frontline crew members to prepare for the impacts of these weather events," said Nathan Brownell, CenterPoint Energy's vice president over resilience and capital delivery and incident commander. "We are also in close contact with our emergency partners to be ready to respond and restore power safely and as quickly as possible."
