Santa Barbara, California, July 21 -- The Florida Panhandle and coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are bracing for the Atlantic's second named tropical storm of the hurricane season.

Tropical Storm Bertha will bring heavy rains, wind gusts, storm surge, and potential flooding over the next three days.

As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said that parts of the four states are under a tropical storm warning, with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour. The storm is expected to travel along the Gulf Coast throughout Wednesday.

The Hurricane Center has cautioned residents about coastal flooding as its surge combines with the normal tide. The Center anticipates an increase of two to four feet of wa...