LATEST DISCUSSION & OUTLOOK FROM THE NHC
At 700 PM CDT (0000 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Barry was located near latitude 30.7 North, longitude 92.7 West, putting the center around 55 miles northwest of Lafayette, LA. Barry is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue tonight. A turn toward the north is expected on Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Barry will move across central Louisiana tonight, through northern Louisiana on Sunday, and over Arkansas Sunday night and Monday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts, and these winds are occurring near the coast to the southeast of the center. Additional weakening is expected as the center moves farther inland, and Barry is forecast to weaken to a depression on Sunday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. A National Ocean Service station at Eugene Island, Louisiana, has recently reported sustained winds of 47 mph and a wind gust of 55 mph. In addition, the Acadiana Regional Airport in New Iberia, Louisiana, recently reported a wind gust of 61 mph.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 998 MB (29.47 inches).
The Tropical Storm Warning west of Cameron Louisiana has been discontinued.
CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron and for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas (including metropolitan New Orleans).
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Intracoastal City to Biloxi and for Lake Pontchartrain.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Intracoastal City to Shell Beach…3 to 6 ft
Shell Beach to Biloxi MS…3 to 5 ft
Lake Pontchartrain…3 to 5 ft
Biloxi MS to the Mississippi/Alabama border…1 to 3 ft
Lake Maurepas…1 to 3 ft
Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
RAINFALL: Barry is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over south-central Louisiana and southwest Mississippi, with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. Across the remainder of the Lower Mississippi Valley, total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are expected, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches. This rainfall is expected to lead to dangerous, life-threatening flooding.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring across portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area, and these conditions should persist through Sunday morning. Wind gusts to tropical-storm force in squalls are possible along portions of the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle through tonight.
TORNADOES: Isolated tornadoes will be possible through tonight cross southwest Alabama, southern Mississippi, and southeast Louisiana.
Central Alabama Weather 