{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.c14fa1c34262150d7bee72dc638bba2a1774172f.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued July 21 at 5:09PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-21","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.c14fa1c34262150d7bee72dc638bba2a1774172f.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Tallahassee FL"},"word_count":905,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Tropical Cyclone Local Statement: Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued July 21 at 5:09PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL\n\n**Severity:** Moderate\n**Certainty:** Likely\n**Urgency:** Expected\n**Areas:** North Walton; Central Walton; Holmes; Washington; Jackson; Inland Bay; Calhoun; Inland Gulf; Inland Franklin; Gadsden; Leon; Inland Jefferson; Madison; Inland Wakulla; Inland Taylor; Lafayette; Inland Dixie; South Walton; Coastal Bay; Coastal Gulf; Coastal Franklin; Coastal Jefferson; Coastal Wakulla; Coastal Taylor; Coastal Dixie; Northern Liberty; Southern Liberty\n**Issued by:** NWS Tallahassee FL\n**Sent:** 2026-07-21T17:09:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-21T17:09:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-22T01:15:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nHLSTAE\n\nThis product covers eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia\n\n**TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREADING WESTWARD ALONG COASTAL PORTIONS\nOF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE**\n\nNEW INFORMATION\n---------------\n\n* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n- None\n\n* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Bay and South\nWalton\n\n* STORM INFORMATION:\n- About 105 miles west-southwest of Panama City\n- 29.4N 87.2W\n- Storm Intensity 60 mph\n- Movement Northwest or 305 degrees at 6 mph\n\nSITUATION OVERVIEW\n------------------\n\n...TROPICAL STORM BERTHA BEGINNING TO PUSH WESTWARD...\n\nAt 4 PM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 105\nmiles west-southwest of Panama City. Bertha is currently moving to the\nnorthwest at 6 mph, and a westward turn is expected tonight or\nWednesday. On the forecast track, the core of Tropical Storm Bertha is\nexpected to remain offshore as it passes south of the Panhandle.\n\nMaximum sustained winds are near 60 mph. Those strongest winds will\nremain offshore, but peripheral impacts around the edge of Bertha will\nbe experienced in coastal communities through Wednesday morning.\nImpacts include dangerous beach conditions from rip currents and very\nrough surf, minor coastal flooding, dangerous marine conditions from\nlarge waves and strong winds, and gusty winds in squalls.\n\nStorm Surge along the coast of Apalachee Bay west of the Aucilla River\nand along the Florida Panhandle coast will bring 1 to 3 feet of\ninundation over normally dry ground near the shoreline during times of\nhigh tide through Wednesday morning.\n\nLocally heavy rainfall is expected along and south of I-10 in Florida,\nwith isolated flash flooding possible. Rainfall totals of 1 to\n2 inches, with isolated spots near 4 inches, are possible through\nWednesday.\n\nPOTENTIAL IMPACTS\n-----------------\n\n* WIND:\nPotential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across\nthe Florida Panhandle. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind having\npossible limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:\n- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored\nmobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.\n- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or\nuprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are\nshallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.\n- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban\nor heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on\nbridges and other elevated roadways.\n- Scattered power and communications outages.\n\nElsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend,\nsoutheastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is\nanticipated.\n\n* SURGE:\nPotential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across\nthe coastal Florida Panhandle and Apalachee Bay. Remain well away from\nlocally hazardous surge having additional limited impacts. If realized,\nthese impacts include:\n- Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along\nimmediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas\nfarther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore.\n- Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread\nwith surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where\nsurge water covers the road.\n- Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly\nin usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents.\n- Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks,\nand piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings.\n\nElsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend,\nsoutheastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is\nanticipated.\n\n* FLOODING RAIN:\nPotential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across\neastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and\nsouthwestern Georgia. Remain well guarded against locally hazardous\nflood waters having possible limited impacts. If\nrealized, these impacts include:\n- Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations.\n- Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents.\nSmall streams, creeks, and ditches may become swollen and\noverflow in spots.\n- Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually\nvulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water\noccurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage\nareas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become\nnear-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge\nclosures.\n\n* TORNADOES:\nLittle to no impacts are anticipated at this time across eastern\nFlorida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and\nsouthwestern Georgia.\n\nPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS\n----------------------------------\n\n* EVACUATIONS:\nFollow the advice of local officials\n\n\n* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:\n\nKeep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose\npower, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and\ncheck-ins.\n\nDo not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or\nvideos.\n\nIf a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the\nsafest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.\n\n\n\n* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:\n- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov\n- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org\n\nNEXT UPDATE\n-----------\n\nThe next local statement will be issued by the National Weather\nService in Tallahassee FL around 10 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions\nwarrant."}