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.
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.’’
