Tropical Storm Bertha has arrived along the US Gulf coast, bringing the usual threat of heavy rain and storm surge flooding, because what else would a storm do? As of Monday evening, Bertha was located about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving erratically - almost as if it's indecisive - but is expected to stay near or along the northern Gulf coast early this week, dumping rain on northern Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana before heading toward Texas. Forecasters predict some additional strengthening, because why not.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and it's set to make landfall in southeast Louisiana on Wednesday. A storm surge watch is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the mouth of the Mississippi River, with water levels potentially rising 2-4 feet. The NHC warns of life-threatening coastal flooding, which sounds serious, but they also mention that storm surge combined with high tide could flood normally dry areas. So, basically, the ocean is coming to visit.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Fausto is strengthening and is forecast to become a hurricane later Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Swells from Fausto will reach the Baja California Peninsula on Wednesday, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions - so maybe hold off on that beach vacation. Fausto is tracking west-northwest through Wednesday, minding its own business, unlike Bertha, which is crashing the Gulf Coast party.