NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM BARRY ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6 AM FRIDAY, 12TH JULY 2019.

… HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE LOUISIANA COAST…. DANGEROUS STORM SURGE, HEAVY RAINS, AND WIND CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF COAST…

AT 6:00 AM EDT, TROPICAL STORM BARRY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 28.1°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 90.2° WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES SOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND 280 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA.

BARRY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR, AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF BARRY WILL BE NEAR OR OVER THE CENTRAL OR SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF LOUISIANA TONIGHT OR SATURDAY, THEN MOVE INLAND INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ON SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND BARRY COULD BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY OR EARLY SATURDAY WHEN THE CENTER IS NEAR THE LOUISIANA COAST. WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER BARRY MOVES INLAND.

THIS SYSTEM POSES NO THREAT TO THE BAHAMAS.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 12 NOON FRIDAY 12TH JULY 2019.

PREPARED BY DUTY FORECASTER: MICHAEL STUBBS 12 July, 2019 @ 0930 UTC