AP – Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday but was expected to weaken as it chugs closer to the United States, potentially bringing coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana.

Those areas along the northern Gulf Coast were under a tropical storm warning through Wednesday and could see heavy rain and flooding into Thursday morning, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Tuesday. New Orleans was under a tropical storm watch.

The storm was about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south-southwest of Panama City, Florida, and 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and moving slowly with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the hurricane center said Tuesday. Gradual weakening was forecast through Friday.