LOUISIANA — Hurricane warning issued for parts of Louisiana coast ahead of Tropical Storm Barry's arrival, according to the Associated Press.
The storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall late Friday night into early Saturday morning as a Category 1 hurricane along the Louisiana Coast.
Latest advisory from the @NHC_Atlantic keeps #Barry at 40 mph -- while their official track forecast keeps it as a strong tropical storm -- they say in between track points (landfall) a hurricane is very possible at landfall.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) July 11, 2019
Right now, it's being affected by strong wind shear.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said the storm could drop 10 to 20 inches of rain on parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Storm surge will also be a concern in southeastern Louisiana, including New Orleans.
Nitz said winds are currently at 40 mph and the storm is strengthening as it moves west.
TROPICAL STORM BARRY has formed at 11 am. Winds now 40 mph, strengthening is likely as it moves west.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) July 11, 2019
I'll have the latest on WSB-TV at noon. pic.twitter.com/sTzNxuwYyr
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Katie Walls said storm surge and flooding rainfall are bigger concerns than winds with this system.
NEW Tropical Storm #Barry will be a big rain-maker for our friends in Louisiana and Mississippi, where 10-20" of rainfall are possible through the weekend. *Storm Surge and Flooding Rainfall are bigger concerns than wind with this system.* pic.twitter.com/SAS0aLZGfb
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) July 11, 2019
Mandatory evacuations are underway for some coastal residents.
We're using powerful weather technology to continuously track the storms as it churns in the ocean, for Channel 2 Action News
[DOWNLOAD: WSB-TV's Weather App for alerts of the tropical system]
Hurricane and tropical storm watches have been posted along the Louisiana coast.
American, Delta, jetBlue, United and Southwest airlines are issuing travel waivers Passengers traveling through select airports in the Gulf Coast may change flights without fees.
Carnival Cruise Line says it rerouted a cruise ship headed to New Orleans because of the potential tropical storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. The Miami-based company says the more than 3,700-passenger Carnival Valor was sent to Mobile, Alabama, in the interest of safety. A company statement notes that coastal Louisiana is under a hurricane watch and water levels are high on the Mississippi River.
Hurricane and tropical storm watches posted along the Louisiana coast this morning as we keep an eye on what will become #Barry. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/36b2CUaV2r
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) July 11, 2019
Moisture from the system will make its way to parts of Georgia, bringing higher humidity, cloudy skies and increased rain chances.
Cox Media Group