Beaches closed and sandbags filled as Tropical Storm Bertha approaches the Gulf Coast

U.S. Gulf Coast communities are closing beaches and distributing sandbags as Tropical Storm Bertha approaches, with landfall expected Wednesday night southeast of New Orleans. National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Buchanan identifies wind as the primary threat. Meanwhile, Bertha's winds reached 59 mph, causing rough surf in Panama City Beach, Florida. This weather event follows a series of destructive tornadoes that swept across the Midwest and Northeast regions on Tuesday, causing significant damage.