Tropical Storm Barry advisory: Tropical storm warnings for metro New Orleans and East Baton Rouge – NOLA.com

A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast of Louisiana from Intracoastal City to Grand Isle, and the tropical storm watch has been upgraded to a tropical storm warning for metro New Orleans as Barry continues to slowly move through the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. advisory.

East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge parishes and Acadiana are also under a tropical storm warning as of the 4 p.m. advisory.

[Latest Tropical Storm Barry projected rainfall: Up to 25 inches in Baton Rouge, 15 in New Orleans]

Barry is forecast to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane between Lafayette and Morgan City sometime Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts, the NHC reported. Strengthening is expected during the next two days, and Barry might become a hurricane late Friday or early Saturday when the center is near the coast.

A HURRICANE WARNING has been issued for the areas in red. Hurricane force winds are expected within 36 hours or less. pic.twitter.com/FxkuQd6QHo

— Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB) July 11, 2019

In a Thursday morning local warning statement, forecasters with the Slidell office of the National Weather Service said residents in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas should prepare for winds between 39 and 57 mph. The NHC warns rainfall totals could be as high as 15-20 inches with isolated areas of 25 inches.

“Emergency plans should include the potential for major flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are likely,” the statement said.

Tim Oram, a meteorologist acting as decision support services coordinator for Barry at the National Hurricane Center, said forecasters will be closely watching how Barry gets organized to track whether its forecast strength remains accurate at landfall. But he said forecasters are most concerned about rainfall, including areas away from the storm’s center, as it moves ashore.

“That’s really what causes the most fatalities,” he said of inland flooding from rainfall. 

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In a discussion of the 4 p.m. advisory, the NHC highlighted the slow movement of Barry, which will result in a heavy rainfall and flood threat along the central Gulf Coast the weekend and into early next week. 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, the NHC 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,” the hurricane center warned.

#Barry is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10-20 inches over SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi, with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches through the weekend. These rains are likely to cause flash flooding in those areas. More: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB @NWSWPC pic.twitter.com/9dFItFsx8r

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 11, 2019

Earlier Thursday, forecasters determined that Barry had reached tropical storm strength, said Senior Hurricane Specialist Jack Beven in a 10 a.m. forecast discussion message.

Barry’s direction over the next few days is being steered by a weak low- to mid-level ridge of high pressure to its north. A weakness is expected to develop in that ridge during the next two days, which will help turn Barry more to the northwest and eventually to the north and landfall, Beven said.

Staff writer Mark Schleifstein contributed to this report.