Parts of coastal Acadiana are under a tropical storm watch as Tropical Storm Bertha becomes better organized, with sustained winds of 60 mph.
A tropical storm watch is in effect from Morgan City to around the Vermilion/Cameron parish border, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Included in the tropical storm watch are portions of lower St. Mary, Iberia and Vermilion parishes.
The tropical storm warning has been extended westward to the Terrebonne/Lafourche parish line.
A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the next 24-48 hours.
Bertha is located about 145 southeast of Mobile, Alabama, moving north/northwest at 3 mph. Sustained winds at 60 mph with stronger gusts.
Tropical storm winds extend about 90 miles from the center.
The storm still is expected to weaken mid-week as it interacts with land and from wind shear, forecasters with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles wrote.
The system is expected to turn more to the west/northwest and then to the west later today and tonight and continue moving west through the middle of the week.
Bertha is not expected to be a problem for Acadiana. The bulk of the clouds are to the south of the storm, over the Gulf of Mexico, so there should be little rain or wind in the Lafayette area.