Tropical Storm Barry Eyes Up Gulf Coast | Friday Update
- Jul 11, 2019
Updated by Earth Networks Staff: 7/12/2019, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Friday Afternoon Update
Tropical Storm Barry continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico. As of 10:00 a.m. CDT, Barry was located at 28.2 N and 90.4 W.
Tropical Storm Barry is moving west-northwest at 5 mph. It’s minimal pressure has dropped from 1005 this time yesterday to 998 mb. It’s maximum sustained winds are 65 mph – just 10 mph below hurricane-force winds.
Key Messages Advisory 9:
The National Hurricane Center released three key messages in Advisory 9 for Tropical Storm Barry.
1. Storm Surge
There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coast of southern and southeastern Louisiana, portions of Lake Pontchartrain, and portions of coastal Mississippi where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect.
Water levels are already beginning to rise in these areas. We expect peak inundation on Saturday. The highest storm surge is expected between Intracoastal City and Shell Beach.
2. Rain & Flooding
The slow movement of Barry will result in a long duration of heavy rainfall.
This will create a large flood threat along the Gulf Coast, across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley, and north into the Tennessee Valley through the weekend and into early next week.
Flash flooding and river flooding will become increasingly likely. Some of this flooding will be life-threatening, especially across portions of southeast Louisiana into Mississippi.
3. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings
Hurricane conditions are expected along the coast of Louisiana, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. We expect tropical storm conditions elsewhere along much of the Louisiana coast and inland across portions of south-central Louisiana. Here, tropical storm warnings are in effect.
Initial Report
Tropical Storm Barry is strengthening as it eyes up the Gulf Coast.
As of 10 AM CDT this morning, a tropical disturbance in the Gulf intensified to become Tropical Storm Barry.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects Barry to bring storm surge, rainfall, and wind hazards to the central Gulf Coast over the next several days.
Keep reading to learn more about the second tropical storm of the 2019 Hurricane Season.
Basic Storm Information
As of 10 a.m. CDT, Tropical Storm Barry was near 27.5 N and 88.7 W. This is about 125 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It’s also about 235 miles southeast of Morgan City, La.
With maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the tropical storm is moving west at 5 mph. The minimum central pressure of the system is 1005 mb.
Watches and Warnings
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) already issued Hurricane Watches, Tropical Storm Watches, and Storm Surge Watches. The areas for each are:
Hurricane Watch: A sign that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within your area within 48 hours.
The NHC issued a Hurricane Watch for much of the Louisiana Coast.
Tropical Storm Warning: Shows tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for much of the Louisiana coastline.
Tropical Storm Watch: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible somewhere within the specified coastal area within 48 hours.
The NHC issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Mississippi coastline and the eastern Louisiana coastline.
Storm Surge Warning: Possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 48 hours, in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.
These Storm Surge Warnings are in effect along much of the eastern Louisiana coastline and the western Mississippi coastline.
Storm Surge Watch: There is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area within 48 hours
The NHC issued a Storm Surge Watch for most of the Louisiana and Mississippi coastline.
The NHC urges that locals pay attention, as more watches and warnings may be necessary later today. It’s good to know all the hurricane warnings and watches before a tropical system threatens your area of residence of business.
Organization and Classification
With the system traveling over a very warm Gulf of Mexico, there is plenty of fuel for it to become better organized into a hurricane.
Further intensification is likely, with Barry likely to come ashore this weekend as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. As a Category 1, Barry could pack winds between 75 and 95 mph. If it strengthens to a Category 2 storm, Barry could pack winds between 96 and 110 mph.
Barry will come ashore somewhere along eastern Texas or the western Louisiana coast.
An Already Soaked Louisiana Braces for Possible Hurricane
This system’s lumbering path through the northern Gulf of Mexico will draw copious moisture into the Gulf Coast states. This will bring torrential downpours from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana and eastern Texas.
Areas from the western suburbs of New Orleans to the western bayous are likely to receive 10 inches or more of rain, with New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., in line to pick up between 6 and 10 inches of rain.
This is a worrying forecast that has many dangerous implications for the people of New Orleans and the affected area at large. However, the situation is more dire because Louisiana is already soaked.
Many parts of Louisiana are already under a Flash Flood Warning thanks to this week’s thunderstorms and an already-high Mississippi River. The storms that affected the area brought torrential rains and driving winds. Many in Louisiana reported tornadoes, sharing their videos on social media on Wednesday.
2019 Hurricane Season
While the tropical season got off to a quick start with Subtropical Storm Andrea developing on May 20, the basin has been relatively quiet since then. Typically, by the end of July two named storms have formed in the Atlantic Basin. That means we’re right on schedule.
Whether or not you live along the Gulf Coast, this is a good time to prepare a hurricane kit. Include:
- A supply kit of water
- Non-perishable food
- A radio and batteries ready so that you’re set when a tropical system forms
Sometimes your favorite highway is blocked or jammed with traffic when it comes time to evacuate. Make sure you consider multiple evacuation routes ahead of time.
Our Earth Networks Meteorologists will continue to monitor this system, and will update with the latest information as it comes available. Check back often for the latest on this storm.
Learn More About Hurricanes
In the meantime, you can test your hurricane knowledge with our Hurricane Quiz or head over to our “All About Hurricanes” page to get answers to your most pressing hurricane questions.
The more you know about severe weather events, the better your can prepare. Head over to our Weather 101 page to brush up on your knowledge of lightning, tornadoes, heat, and more.
