Tropical Storm Barry Forms, Expected to Become Hurricane Barry

The forecast model showing where Barry is heading (NHC)

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced on July 11 that Tropical Storm Barry has formed.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from the mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City, the agency said. A storm surge warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Shell Beach.

The storm is about 95 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and 200 miles southeast of Morgan City.

The storm, meanwhile, has 40 mph winds and is moving 5 mph to the west, which is considered slow.

A hurricane watch was put in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron.

Barry is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before slamming the Mississippi River Valley over the weekend.

“There is a fairly high chance that Tropical Storm Barry will become a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale before making landfall,” said AccuWeather’s Dan Kottlowski.

He said the storm is forecast to hit Louisana on Friday night or Saturday.

“Our greatest concern is for torrential rain that would result in life-threatening flooding,” Kottlowski said. “Heavy, flooding rainfall is expected over a large area especially over much of eastern Louisiana into parts of southern and central Mississippi and parts of southeastern Arkansas.”

“The slow movement of this system will result in a long-duration heavy rainfall threat along the central Gulf Coast and inland through the lower Mississippi Valley through the weekend and potentially into early next week,'‘ the hurricane center said. ”Flash flooding and river flooding will become increasingly likely, some of which may be significant, especially along and east of the track of the system.’’

The Weather Prediction Center is predicting up to 15 inches of rain in some parts of Louisiana due to the storm.

Some models have predicted between 20 to 30 inches of rain across Louisiana due to Barry.

According to The Associated Press, mandatory evacuations were ordered southeast of New Orleans on Thursday as the city and a surrounding stretch of the Gulf Coast braced for a possible hurricane over the weekend that could unload heavy rain and send water spilling over levees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.