TOLEDO, Ohio — Tropical season is off and running with the second named storm of the Atlantic basin hurricane season. As of 8 am Friday, Tropical Storm Barry continues to grow stronger.
Favorable conditions and warm sea surface temperatures in the coastal Gulf of Mexico waters will allow Barry to continue to strengthen, possibly reaching Category 1 hurricane strength before landfall late Friday night and into Saturday morning.
Our First Alert weather team is keeping a close eye on this tropical development as the remnant moisture may arrive into our area by the middle of next week. If is does so, this would bring sweltering tropical moisture and the potential for heavier downpours.
In the meantime, here is the latest from the First Alert weather team. Various tropical model guidance drifts Barry onshore over Louisiana late Friday and into Saturday. Barry will likely be a strong tropical storm or weak Category 1 hurricane.
The latest NHC forecast calls for a Category 1 hurricane with winds to 75 mph. The far greatest impact will be torrential tropical rainfall. Parts of Louisiana will receive as much as 15 to 20" of rainfall.
Stay tuned for updates through the weekend!
