Live updates: Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana, flooding hits Virginia & Carolinas

Tropical Storm Bertha will soon make landfall on the east-facing coast of southeastern Louisiana.

Gusty winds are impacting the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Louisiana, but so much dry air is pushing in from the north that the rain associated with the circulation is relatively light.

Winds on the backside of the circulation are pushing Gulf water toward the coast.

Tides have been running 2 to 3 feet above normal, resulting in some limited coastal flooding around high tide.

Once the Bertha’s broad center makes landfall, the circulation is likely to get sufficiently disrupted that the tropical system essentially dissipates.

But the cluster of thunderstorms south of Louisiana over the very warm Gulf water is quite intense.

It's not out of the question that a new center forms from that compact system, and the new circulation and the remnants of Bertha continue west toward Texas.