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21 Jul 2026 / Gulf Coast, United States

Tropical Storm Bertha update

*** Last updated: 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]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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