NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued Public Advisory #2 at 4 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Sunday, July 19, 2026, for Tropical Depression Two (formerly Invest 91L), which is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha on the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane List. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Florida Panhandle. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. NOAA National Hurricane Center Tropical Depression Two Projected Path Tropical Depression Two is located about 155 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida (near 27.5°N 85.0°W), and is currently meandering off the west coast of Florida with a slow north-northwest drift. NHC forecasters say the system is expected to meander with slow motion over the next day or so. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Florida Panhandle by late Monday. Longer-range guidance indicates the system will likely turn westward and track along or near the northern Gulf Coast toward Louisiana, Mississippi, and possibly southeast Texas later in the week. Tropical Depression Two Computer Models [caption id="attachment_11607" align="aligncenter" width="1044"] Tropical Depression Two 2026 Computer Models, Spaghetti Models[/caption] Computer models (spaghetti plots) show Tropical Depression Two generally moving slowly northward initially before turning westward along the northern Gulf Coast. There is still considerable spread in both the forecast track and forward speed among the models. The official NHC forecast track is consistent with the general consensus of guidance. Tropical Depression Two Strength [caption id="attachment_11620" align="aligncenter" width="897"] NOAA National Hurricane Center Tropical Depression Two Wind Arrival Time[/caption] Tropical Depression Two has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (48 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected, and the system is forecast to become Tropical Storm Bertha in the coming days. NOAA forecasts a “below-normal” 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. [caption id="attachment_8226" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] NOAA historical hurricane data. Peak season and storm frequency.[/caption] Although peak hurricane season isn’t until September, hurricane and tropical storm activity is possible throughout July and typically increases as the season progresses toward its climatological peak in mid-September, according to NOAA and the National Weather Service’s historical hurricane activity data.