A tropical depression has strengthened into Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is now churning toward the Gulf Coast, bringing the threat of heavy rain, storm surge and flash flooding with it. A storm surge watch is also in place from the Florida-Alabama border to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A storm surge of up to four feet is expected in some low-lying coastal areas. Severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds, flash flooding and possible tornadoes.