Is There a Hurricane Coming to Texas?

Yes — and it is happening right now. Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana earlier today, Wednesday, July 22, and is on a direct path toward Southeast Texas. Here is the latest, what you need to know, and what to do immediately.

Tropical Storm Bertha Is Heading Toward Southeast Texas Today

This is a dynamic and evolving environment. Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Arthur, which brought strong winds and torrential rain to the Texas Gulf Coast in mid-June, is slowly spinning across the Gulf of America as it approaches Texas. At 2:00 PM CT on Wednesday, July 22, Tropical Storm Bertha officially made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. It's expected to remain a tropical storm until it reaches the upper Texas coast on Thursday, at which point it will weaken and fade over inland Texas by Thursday night or Friday.

Tropical Storm Warnings Are Now in Effect for Southeast Texas

The Texas coast is officially and immediately under threat. As Bertha approaches onshore, forecasters have issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Southeast Texas coast from Sargent to the Louisiana state line, which includes Galveston and Port Arthur. The maximum rainfall levels are predicted to be between two and four inches. The primary risks to Southeast Texas will be found closest to the shore, where heavy rainfall might result in flooding and tropical storm-force winds could cause modest property damage and power disruptions.

What Texas Residents Should Do Right Now

With Bertha arriving Thursday, the window to prepare is closing fast. Here are the most critical steps to take today:

Secure your property — bring in outdoor furniture, decorations, and any loose items that could become projectiles in tropical-force winds. Cover windows if shutters or boards are available.

Fill up your gas tank — gas stations run out quickly before storms. Fill up today while lines are manageable.

Prepare an emergency kit — stock at least 72 hours of water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents in a waterproof bag.

Know your evacuation route — coastal residents in Galveston, Port Arthur, and Brazoria County should know their designated evacuation routes and have a destination in mind if local officials issue an order.

Stay informed — monitor the National Hurricane Center at nhc.noaa.gov, follow the Houston National Weather Service at weather.gov/hgx, and sign up for Harris County's emergency alert system at readyharris.org