Tropical Storm Bertha moved inland over the Gulf Coast on Thursday. But its most significant flooding rain threat is unfolding in the East.

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana and was southwest of New Orleans while moving west toward Texas early Thursday morning, after closing beaches on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi.

Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to weaken in the Gulf of Mexico as it chugs closer to the U.S. But forecasters say it still could bring coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to

Bertha was forecast to make landfall Wednesday night in the coastal and lightly populated part of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans, with wind as the biggest threat.

Tropical Storm Genevieve is forecast to intensify to major hurricane strength by Sunday night, becoming the first storm to do so this year in either the Atlantic or east Pacific Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. Wednesday update reported that Bertha is now affecting Louisiana. Tropical Storm Bertha is 25 miles southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana and 70 miles southwest of Biloxi Mississippi. Packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, it is tracking to the west at 7 mph.

Bertha, the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to drop heavy rain in the region this week.

Atlantic hurricane season is off to a quiet start and it’s probably time to start pointing fingers at El Niño.