Tropical Storm 'Bertha' is approaching the coasts of the southern United States, threatening several states, with coastal flooding expected in the coming hours.

The US National Hurricane Center confirmed that the storm was located on Tuesday about 115 kilometers southwest of Panama City, Florida, and is moving slowly northwest toward the coast with sustained winds of up to 97 kilometers per hour.

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According to the center, several US coastal areas have been placed under tropical storm watch or warning, with expectations of strong winds, heavy rain, and possible storm surge along the northern Gulf coast.

First warnings issued

'Bertha', which formed from a tropical depression into a tropical storm, prompted the first warnings in coastal areas along the Gulf.