UPDATE 7/15/19 AM
Barry has dissipated over western Arkansas and the NHC has issued their final advisory on the storm. Heavy rain and flooding will continue through the week.
UPDATE 7/14/19 PM
Barry weakens to a depression....still dumping heavy rainfall across LA, MS, TN and AR.
UPDATE 7/14/19 AM II
Barry continues to weaken with winds down to 45 mph as of the 11 AM Advisory. Further weakening is expected and should become a depression later Sunday. The threat for heavy rainfall will continue through the rest of today, tonight into Monday across LA, MS, AR and TN. Flash flooding will be the biggest concern through early this week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/14/19 AM
Tropical Storm Barry continues to move inland and is located near Shreveport LA. Locally heavy rainfall continues to spread across southeast LA and western MS. This will continue today along with an isolated tornado threat.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/13/19 PM IV
Tropical Storm Barry has weakened significantly over the past 3 hours. Maximum sustained wind is 50 mph and minimum central pressure has risen to 1002 mb. Barry will continue its NNW path through the overnight hours and continue to weaken as it does so. Barry will be downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday late morning or early afternoon. Widespread flooding can still be expected over the next couple of days as Barry drops 10-20 inches of rain in parts of Louisiana. Now is a good time to make sure you are prepared here in SWFL for a possible tropical storm or hurricane. Visit our website: https://www.fox4now.com/weather/hurricane-center for more information regarding flood zones, evacuation routes, storm shelters in your area, and much more.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 7/13/19 PM III
Tropical Storm Barry continues to weaken as it slowly moves through central and southern Louisiana. Central pressure has increased to 998 mb and the maximum sustained wind has decreased to 60 mph which both show signs of continued weakening. The forward speed of Barry has increased a bit to 8 mph. Numerous flood warnings are in effect for southern and southeast Louisiana as 10-20 inches of rain is expected in the area. Now is a good time to make sure you are prepared here in SWFL for a possible tropical storm or hurricane. Visit our website: https://www.fox4now.com/weather/hurricane-center for more information regarding flood zones, evacuation routes, storm shelters in your area, and much more.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 7/13/19 PM II
Barry continues to move through southern Louisiana with maximum sustained wind of 65 mph. Forward speed has increased just a bit to 7 mph and has taken more of a turn to the north as expected. Central pressure has increased as well to 997 mb which indicates further weakening now that Barry is on land. 10-20 inches of rain is possible in parts of Louisiana through Sunday evening as flooding is the major concern. Now is a good time to make sure you are prepared here in SWFL for a possible tropical storm or hurricane. Visit our website: https://www.fox4now.com/weather/hurricane-center for more information regarding flood zones, evacuation routes, storm shelters in your area, and much more.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 7/13/19 PM:
Barry makes landfall as a hurricane with winds of 75 mph. It is now back to tropical storm status and will continue weakening through tonight. Strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and isolated tornadoes will continue along with a storm surge threat on the the Louisiana coast.
UPDATE 7/13/19 AM II:
Barry becomes a hurricane with winds of 75 mph and will move onshore shortly. Dangerous storm surge, strong winds, and torrential rainfall will lead to flooding across LA/MS and AL through tonight.
UPDATE 7/13/19 AM:
Tropical Storm Barry's winds are now up to 70 mph and its getting closer to landfall which should occur sometime today. Torrential rainfall is already occurring across coastal MS and AL and will spread into southeast LA throughout the day. Flooding will be likely, with upwards of 20" of rainfall possible in some areas by Monday. The threat for isolated tornadoes will increase during the day as spiral rain bands rotate around the center with the greatest threat to the east of the center across southeast LA, MS and AL.
UPDATE 7/12/19 PM II:
Tropical Storm Barry continues to meander across the northern Gulf, just off the LA coast. Max winds are still at 65 mph with some indications that strengthening is occurring. It is forecast to become a minimal hurricane before making landfall on Saturday. Latest projections show 10 to 20" of rain just west of the New Orleans metro area, which includes Baton Rouge and Morgan City. Wind damage with power outages will be possible as the storm moves northward thruogh southern Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Isolated tornadoes will be possible east of the center.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/12/19 AM II:
Barry is strengthening with winds now at 65 mph. Strengthening is expected to continue despite less than ideal conditions with forecasts bringing it to hurricane status by Saturday before making landfall in southern Louisiana. The threats remain the same, significant flooding, storm surge and the possibility of isolated tornadoes east of the center. Also strong winds will likely cause some power outages.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/12/19 AM:
Barry hasn't strengthened since Thursday's 11 pm advisory and is still moving very slowly at 5 mph. Maximum sustained wind with Barry is 50 mph and is expected continue a WNW movement before turning more toward the north later tonight and into Saturday. Rain bands have been moving through the New Orleans area this morning and will continue to do so throughout the day. Storm surge as well as flooding are the main concerns with Barry as rainfall amounts could be between 10 and 15 inches by Sunday evening. Barry is expected to make landfall around lunchtime Saturday as either a strong tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 7/11/19 PM II:
Barry is strengthening as of Thursday evening with winds now up to 50 mph. The storm is still dealing with moderate upper level wind shear from the north, which is blowing the thunderstorms that would otherwise strengthen it toward the south, west and east of the center. However in the last couple of hours, there has been a marked increase of the thunderstorms wrapping around the eastern side of the low level circulation. This may be the beginning of more significant intensification through Friday and Saturday morning before landfall. There is still a chance that the storm could become a hurricane before landfall on Saturday.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/11/19 PM:
Tropical Storm Barry winds remain at 40 mph. The storm is dealing with some moderate wind shear from the north and this is slowing organization. It is still expected to intensify slowly as it approaches the LA coast by Saturday, possibly reaching strong tropical storm strength to minimal hurricane strength before making landfall. Nothing has changed regarding potential impacts with locally heavy rainfall expected to top 15-20" in some areas, mainly to the east of the track.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/11/19 AM II:
Tropical Storm Barry has formed in the northern Gulf. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING is now in effect from Morgan City LA to the mouth of the Pearl River. The center of circulation is now just southeast of Buras LA and will move toward the west then northwest through Friday likely making landfall on Saturday as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane. Locally heavy rain and flooding will be the biggest issue from the storm, with some areas seeing over 20" of rainfall with the potential for significant to potentially catastrophic flooding. The MS River is already just a few feet below levee heights along the East Bank and West Bank of the MS River in New Orleans and the potential is there for levee failure or overtopping of the levees leading to the possibility of major flooding. The flood threat will extend inland into MS and AR into early next week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 7/11/19 AM:
A hurricane watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Mississippi River northward to the Mouth of the Pearl River. A storm surge watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Pearl River to Intracoastal City.
The new forecast track has this disturbance moving west at 5 mph. Maximum sustained wind has increased to 35 mph which is still under tropical storm criteria. Tropical Storm Barry is expected to form later today and continue a westward movement before turning toward the northwest then north making landfall near the central coast of Louisiana Saturday morning possibly as a Category 1 Hurricane. Flooding rainfall will be the biggest threat, where some areas could see over 10-15" of rainfall as well as some storm surge to the right of the track. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible in rain bands to the east of the center.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 7/10/19 PM:
Hurricane Watches are now in effect for the Louisiana coast as well as Storm Surge Watches in anticipation of the arrival of what will likely be Barry. Satellite presentation has improved through the afternoon and evening and we could have a tropical storm sometime Thursday.
New forecast track and advisory is up for Potential Tropical Cyclone Two, now over the northern Gulf. It is expected to continue southwest with a turn toward the northwest toward the Louisiana coast by this weekend. While over the Gulf, it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for parts of southeast Louisiana ahead of its arrival. Flooding rainfall will be the biggest threat, where some areas could see over 10-15" of rainfall as well as some storm surge to the right of the track. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible in rain bands to the east of the center.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
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