Latest / EM Morning Brief / Tropical Storm Bertha targets the northern Gulf Coast; wildfires hold at Preparedness Level 5; flash flood and extreme heat threats stretch from Texas to New York

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Tropical Storm Bertha targets the northern Gulf Coast; wildfires hold at Preparedness Level 5; flash flood and extreme heat threats stretch from Texas to New York · EM Morning Brief

• 0:30
  Good morning.
• 0:30
  I'm Cedric and This is your EM Morning Brief for Tuesday, July 21, 2026 and today's episode is sponsored by the NIMSS Store.
• 0:39
  Her's the National Snapshot Tropical Storm Bertha is strengthening over the northeastern Gulf in the National Hurricane Center's 1am CDT advisory.
• 0:49
  The storm sits about 125 miles south of Panama City, Florida with 50 mph sustained winds crawling northwest at 2 mph.
• 1:00
  A tropical storm warning covers the coast from the Alabama and Florida border to the Jefferson and Plaquemines Parish line in Louisiana.
• 1:07
  A storm surge watch runs from the Alabama and Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi river, and tropical storm watches cover part of the Florida Panhandle plus southeastern Louisiana including metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake maurepas.
• 1:24
  Forecasters expect 2 to 4 inches of rain with isolated totals near 8 inches through Thursday, and 2 to 4ft of surge is possible from the mouth of the Mississippi river to the Alabama and Florida border.
• 1:38
  The wildfire picture holds at the ceiling.
• 1:41
  The nation remains at preparedness level five, with 74 large fires being suppressed and five new large fires reported in Monday's Incident Management Situation Report.
• 1:52
  Year to date, 40,560 wildfires have burned roughly 3.96 million acres.
• 1:59
  Minnesota's lightning caused fires keep the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness fully closed and evacuation orders remain in place near Ely, while crews in Oregon, Washington, California and Utah manage active evacuations and threatened communities.
• 2:13
  A frontal system drives an enhanced risk of severe storms and a flash flood threat from the mid south into the Northeast today with flood watches along the I95 corridor across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the New York City area.
• 2:27
  Extreme heat warnings cover portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas through Tuesday evening with heat index values up to 115.
• 2:38
  Abroad the State Department has issued a worldwide caution advising Americans to exercise increased caution due to heightened tensions in the Middle east and the potential for travel disruptions.
• 2:51
  Lets run through the states.
• 2:53
  Alabama A tropical storm warning is in effect along the coast west of the Florida border and a storm surge watch extends to the mouth of the Mississippi river.
• 3:03
  Bertha could push 2 to 4ft of surge onto normally dry ground if peak surge lines up with high tide and southern portions of the state sit in the 2 to 4 inch rainfall footprint through Thursday.
• 3:16
  Arkansas an extreme heat warning is in effect through 9pm Tuesday for portions of the state with heat index values as high as 115116.
• 3:26
  Heat illness risk climbs sharply during afternoon hours.
• 3:30
  California the biscar fire about 40 miles northeast of Susanville shows extreme fire behavior with wind driven runs spotting and torching.
• 3:40
  Structures and energy infrastructure are threatened and area and road closures are in effect.
• 3:45
  The Brook Fire, 10 miles northeast of Redding threatens residences with evacuations in effect.
• 3:51
  Florida Bertha puts the Panhandle under a tropical storm watch from the Bay and Gulf county line westward to the Alabama border.
• 3:59
  Surge of 1 to 3ft is possible from Indian Pass to Chasowitzka and swells are already producing life threatening surf and rip currents on the Gulf Coast.
• 4:10
  Separately, the city of Lahti in Bradford county issued a precautionary boil water notice after a chlorine system issue.
• 4:18
  Kentucky A boilwater advisory is in effect for parts of Franklin county after a water line was struck on Nineveh Road.
• 4:25
  Affected areas include Big Eddy, Johnson Road, Nineveh Road and Travis Circle.
• 4:31
  Louisiana Bertha's tropical storm warning covers the coast east of the Jefferson and Plaquemines Parish line with watches extending west to Morgan City and across metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas surge of 1-3ft is possible from Morgan
• 4:49
  City to the mouth of the Mississippi river and on Lake Pontchartrain, with tropical storm conditions possible by late tonight into Wednesday.
• 4:57
  Portions of the state are also under an extreme heat warning through Tuesday evening.
• 5:03
  Michigan the Village of Holly in Oakland county is under a boil water advisory following a water main break.
• 5:10
  Residents should boil water for drinking and cooking until testing clears the system.
• 5:16
  Minnesota the Superior National Forest fires continue to drive operations in the Northeast.
• 5:22
  The Forest Service has extended the full closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness through Friday, July 24.
• 5:30
  More than 70,000 acres have burned in and around the wilderness.
• 5:33
  Evacuation orders remain in areas around Elytra and an air quality alert covers much of the state due to smoke.
• 5:42
  Mississippi Southern portions of the state fall inside Bertha's 2 to 4 inch rainfall footprint through Thursday with flash flooding possible and inland areas remain under an extreme heat warning through Tuesday evening.
• 5:56
  New Jersey A flood watch covers most of the state and most of New Jersey sits Under a level 3 of 5 severe weather risk today.
• 6:05
  The strongest storms are expected between late afternoon and late evening, capable of damaging winds, hail, flooding, downpours and an isolated tornado.
• 6:15
  New York New York City and the surrounding area are under a flood watch with two rounds of storms expected today, the second and stronger round between 5pm and 11pm the city sits under a level two of five severe
• 6:28
  weather risk with flash flooding a concern in flood prone neighborhoods.
• 6:33
  Oklahoma an extreme heat warning is in effect for large portions of the state through Tuesday evening with air temperatures well above 100 and heat index values up to 115.
• 6:45
  Officials urge residents to limit outdoor exposure and check on neighbors.
• 6:50
  OREGON Central Oregon Fire activity keeps evacuation notices in motion The Row Creek complex has Level one, two and three evacuation notices in place for communities in Wheeler and Wasco counties, and the Hay Creek complex and several nearby fires
• 7:05
  also carry active evacuation orders.
• 7:08
  Residents should be ready for rapidly changing levels.
• 7:12
  Pennsylvania A flood watch remains in effect through late tonight for counties along the i95 corridor with severe storms capable of damaging winds and flooding.
• 7:21
  Downpours moving through this afternoon and evening, per the NWS Mount Holly briefing.
• 7:29
  FEMA has added Kimball, Mason and Menard counties to the major disaster declaration for the July flooding, opening public assistance funding for infrastructure repair.
• 7:40
  Federal assistance remains active for flooding that began July 12.
• 7:44
  Dangerous heat continues with North Texas expecting triple digit temperatures and heat index values of 105 to 109.
• 7:53
  Utah the state remains among the hardest hit this fire season with eight major wildfires burning more than 250,000 acres combined.
• 8:02
  The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver county has burned over 94,000 acres and stands at 25% containment.
• 8:10
  In Okanogan County, a wildfire that reached about 53,000 acres in Sunday's update threatens more than 1,000 homes and businesses.
• 8:19
  Level three go now.
• 8:20
  Evacuations remain near Nespelum for the Kaiser Canyon Fire, and Ancient Lakes is under a Level two Get Set notice.
• 8:28
  West Virginia governor Morrissey declared a state of emergency for Barber county on Monday after weekend storms dropped an estimated 4.5 to 7 inches of rain in three to four hours.
• 8:40
  At least one home was destroyed and most damage hit roads, bridges and water lines.
• 8:46
  The declaration runs 30 days unless extended.
• 8:49
  All other states and territories have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
• 8:55
  That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
• 8:57
  New episodes drop Monday through Friday in the 5am hour PT, so the day starts with clarity instead of catch up.
• 9:05
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• 9:11
  EM Morning Brief is an EOC Voices podcast.
• 9:14
  Stay safe.