Update: JULY 25, 2026
Operational impacts from Tropical Storm Bertha have significantly eased across the US Gulf Coast.
Most ports have returned to normal operations.
The only reported disruption remains at Pascagoula Bayou Casotte, where reopening is expected later today following storm-related damage to a dredge pipe.
Pascagoula
- Bayou Casotte remains closed due to a dredge pipe that broke away during the storm.
- Reopening was expected later yesterday evening.
Lake Charles
- The channel reopened at 00:45 (LT) on July 24.
- Port operations have returned to normal.
- No restrictions are currently in place.
Beaumont / Port Arthur
- Sabine Pilots reopened the channel for all inbound and outbound traffic at 03:00 (LT) on July 24.
Mobile, New Orleans / Lower Mississippi River, Houston, Freeport and Corpus Christi
- No reported closures or delays.
- Ports are operating normally.
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Update: JULY 24, 2026
Tropical Storm Bertha continues westward along the Texas-Louisiana coast and is expected to weaken rapidly as it moves inland.
Forecasts indicate the system is likely to dissipate within the next 12-24 hours.
Most ports east of Louisiana have returned to normal operations, while Lake Charles and parts of the Texas coast continue to experience weather-related operational impacts.
Lake Charles
- The Calcasieu Channel remains closed.
- Lake Charles Pilots suspended all vessel movements at 22:25 (LT) on July 22.
- Pilots expect the channel to remain closed through the day and likely overnight.
- Reported swells are currently 14-16 feet.
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect.
- Winds and sea conditions remain the primary operational concern.
Mobile
- Port status NORMAL.
- Mobile Pilots resumed vessel movements at 08:30 (LT) on July 23.
- This is expected to be the final Bertha-related update for the port.
Pascagoula
- Bayou Casotte remains closed after a dredge pipe broke away during the storm.
- Reopening is expected on July 24, subject to conditions.
New Orleans / Lower Mississippi River
- Port Condition NORMAL
- Vessel movements and cargo operations are authorized.
- The Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) East has been revoked.
- Waterways are open; however, mariners are advised to exercise caution due to the potential presence of storm debris, shoaling, flooding and damaged or missing aids to navigation.
Beaumont / Port Arthur
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect.
- A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect through 19:00 (LT) on July 23.
- Sabine Pilots suspended boardings at 11:00 (LT) on July 23 due to rough seas.
- Pilot operations are expected to resume on July 24, conditions permitting.
Houston / Texas Coast
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Houston Turning Basin.
- Houston Pilots resumed outbound sailings at 15:30 (LT) on July 23.
- Restrictions in Bolivar Roads Anchorage have been lifted.
- The suspension of bunkering operations and deep-draft vessel arrivals was removed at 19:00 (LT) on July 23.
- Normal operations may resume in Bolivar Roads Anchorage.
Freeport
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Freeport and Freeport Fairway Anchorage.
- A Small Craft Advisory is also in effect.
- No port closures have been reported.
- Pilots are not currently expecting significant delays, although temporary restrictions remain possible should conditions deteriorate.
Corpus Christi, Port Everglades and Tampa
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect.
- No additional operational restrictions have been reported.
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Update: JULY 23, 2026
Bertha continues to weaken as it tracks westward along the Gulf Coast.
WeatherOps forecasts indicate dissipation within approximately 24-48 hours as the system moves inland.
The most significant operational impacts currently reported are pilot service suspensions in Mobile, channel closure in Lake Charles, operational restrictions in the Lower Mississippi River area and precautionary traffic measures around Houston-Galveston.
Mobile
- Port Condition WHISKEY.
- Mobile Pilots remain suspended after suspending operations on July 21
- Pilots intend to assess channel conditions on July 24 (LT).
- Vessel movements may resume if channel conditions and sea state permit.
Pascagoula
- Port Condition WHISKEY.
- Pilots will assess operating conditions when pilot orders are received.
- No vessel movements are expected after sundown (LT), although the port has not been formally closed.
- Vessel operators should ensure all required USCG documentation and mooring plans have been submitted and remain alert for changing conditions.
New Orleans / Lower Mississippi River
- Port Condition WHISKEY remains in force north of Mile 80 AHP, with a modified X-RAY condition below Mile 80 AHP.
- The Regulatory Navigation Area (RNA) East remains in effect.
- Port authorities have requested that container vessels do not come alongside before 1200 hrs on July 23.
- Pilot associations currently plan to continue operations, although short-term suspensions remain possible if conditions deteriorate.
- Dredging operations continue with no suspension currently planned.
- Wave heights near Southwest Pass were forecast to peak around 10ft before easing.
- Tropical-storm-related impacts are expected to continue through Thursday midday local time.
Lake Charles
- Channel closure announced.
- Lake Charles Pilots suspended channel movements after the inbound transit of Sound Pearl.
- Pilot services have been suspended and channel conditions are expected to be reviewed on July 23.
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the area.
- Reopening will depend on weather conditions.
Beaumont / Port Arthur
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect.
- Forecasts indicate Bertha is continuing to weaken as it tracks westward.
- National Weather Service guidance indicates gradual weakening is expected during the next several days.
Houston / Texas Coast
- A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Houston Turning Basin.
- USCG Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston has implemented precautionary measures for Bolivar Roads Anchorage.
- Bunkering operations were scheduled to be suspended from 2000 hrs (LT) on July 22
- Deep-draft vessel arrivals to Bolivar Roads Anchorage were scheduled to be suspended from 0500 hrs (LT) on July 23.
- Operators are advised to secure equipment, review moorings and closely monitor weather and traffic advisories.
Freeport
- Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Freeport and Freeport Fairway Anchorage.
- A Hazardous Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued.
- Monitoring continues.
Corpus Christi
- Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect.
- Monitoring continues.
Tampa & Port Everglades
- Port remains open and fully operational.
- No restrictions currently reported.
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Update: JULY 22, 2026
Tropical Storm Bertha is forecast to continue westward along the Gulf Coast before making landfall near the Houston area later this week and weakening inland.
Port conditions and operational restrictions may change rapidly as forecasts are updated.
Local authorities and port stakeholders continue to monitor developments closely.
Please find below an overview per port:
Mobile
- Port Condition WHISKEY.
- Mobile Pilots have suspended operations until further notice.
- US Coast Guard (USCG) expects to maintain WHISKEY status until Wednesday morning (LT).
- If the storm continues to follow its current forecast track, port status may be downgraded.
Pascagoula
- Port Condition WHISKEY.
- Vessel operators should ensure all required documentation and mooring plans have been submitted to USCG.
- Pascagoula Pilots will decide on vessel movements when orders are received
- Pilots have indicated they are not expecting to move vessels after sundown Tuesday (LT)
- Conditions may deteriorate overnight.
New Orleans / Lower Mississippi River
- Port Condition WHISKEY.
- Modified Port Condition X-RAY may be implemented below Mile 80 Above Head of Passes to reflect the expected arrival of tropical-storm-force winds.
- Weather impacts expected to begin affecting areas south of the river early Wednesday morning (LT).
- The Carrollton Gauge is forecast to rise above eight feet following the storm, prompting additional navigational advisories.
- Port authorities currently do not anticipate suspending operations.
- Pilot associations are continuing operations but may temporarily suspend vessel movements if conditions warrant.
- No suspension of dredging operations is currently planned
Lake Charles
- Tropical Storm Bertha may move toward the Lake Charles area later this week.
- LNG terminal schedules remain under review pending further storm developments.
- Pilots have not yet confirmed whether channel closures will be required.
- Monitoring continues.
Beaumont
- Current forecasts suggest that Bertha may weaken to a tropical depression or low-pressure system before reaching the Sabine Pass area.
- Forecasts remain subject to change and conditions continue to be monitored.
Houston
- No port closures currently reported.
- Operators are advised to secure equipment on decks and docks as appropriate.
- Forecasts continue to indicate Bertha may approach the Texas coast later this week.
Freeport, Corpus Christi, Tampa and Port Everglades
- No port closures currently reported.
- Monitoring continues as Tropical Storm Bertha progresses
Note: Port Condition WHISKEY indicates that gale force winds are expected within 72 hours
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JULY 21, 2026
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has declared Port Condition WHISKEY at several ports and waterways in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Port Condition WHISKEY indicates that gale force winds are expected within 72 hours. Ports remain open to all commercial traffic, but vessels and port facilities should prepare for possible storm impacts and initiate severe weather plans.
From the evening of July 20, 2026), the ports under Status Whiskey are:
- Gulfport
- Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW): Mile 44.5-90, 91-110 &111-166
- Pascagoula
- Mobile
- Pensacola
- Lake Charles
- Beaumont
- Houston
- Corpus Christi
- Freeport
For oceangoing commercial vessels and Coast Guard-regulated barges over 500 GT:
- Vessels must report whether they intend to depart or remain in port.
- Vessels intending to depart should complete preparations and get underway before Port Condition YANKEE is set, when gale force winds are expected within 24 hours.
- Vessels remaining in port must submit the required Remaining in Port Checklist and detailed mooring plan before Port Condition X-RAY is established, 48 hours before the anticipated arrival of gale force winds.
- Arriving vessels expected to berth before Port Condition X-RAY should make berthing arrangements and submit a mooring plan before requesting port entry unless they intend to depart before YANKEE is set.
- Vessels remaining in port must follow additional storm-preparation requirements, including maintaining activated Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) throughout the event and recovery period.
- Anchoring is prohibited during a severe weather event.
Conditions may change as the forecast is updated and Port Condition ZULU (gale force winds expected within 12 hours) may be quickly set as the situation develops. Mariners throughout the affected areas should monitor the path of Tropical Storm Bertha and be prepared to take action if its path changes.
The impact of Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to begin late on July 21 local time and continue into July 22. Wave heights off Southwest Pass are forecast to peak at approximately 12 feet by mid-day local time on July 22 before subsiding on July 23.
Our offices in the affected areas are monitoring conditions and will issue updates as the situation develops.
For further details, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact us at [email protected]
