Real-time reports of Tropical Storm Barry July 12-14

The storm made landfall on Saturday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, near Intracoastal City, Louisiana, but quickly weakened to a tropical storm several hours later.

As Barry moved inland, multiple reports emerged of levees overtopping in Terrebonne and Plaquemines parishes, with mandatory evacuations being ordered by Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove for all areas along Louisiana Highway 315.

As Barry moved inland, it produced a significant flood threat across the lower Mississippi Valley.

Scroll down to read real-time updates from July 12-14.

Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert to any tropical advisories, watches and warnings. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.

Additional reporting by Reed Timmer, Jonathan Petramala, Brian Lada and Kevin Byrne.

<hr>

4 p.m. CDT Sunday: Barry weakened to a tropical depression by 4 p.m. CDT on Sunday in the northwestern corner of Louisiana, but it continues to bring life-threatening flooding rains. The storm trudges on just above Shreveport, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Barry is expected to become a tropical rainstorm by Monday.

<hr>

12:00 p.m. CDT Sunday: The Coast Guard captain of the port for Sector New Orleans has reopened the Port of New and set port conditions normal, allowing vessel movement into and out of the river and the Port of New Orleans with some restrictions.

"As Barry moves across the state, we still have several hours of rain, tornadoes and severe weather ahead of us. Continue to monitor local media outlets for the latest weather information and important updates from local officials in your area," Louisiana Gov. Edwards said in a twitter post.

<hr>

11:35 a.m. CDT Sunday: According to NWS New Orleans, there are two tornado warned storms north of Watson along the border of East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, and St. Helena parishes. If you are in this area take cover now.

<hr>

10:40 a.m. CDT Sunday: Work has been completed and water is no longer overtopping a levee in the Dularge area.

<hr>

10:15 a.m. CDT Sunday: The Flood Protection Authority (FPA) field crews will begin the process of reopening key floodgates in an effort to assist with rail, emergency routes, and river commerce. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. CDT crews will be dispatched to open floodgates in areas of the St. Bernard Parish and the Orleans Parish.

<hr>

9:00 a.m. CDT Sunday: Law enforcement is on site where there is likely tornado damage with downed power lines along Fore Road near Livingston Parish in Louisiana.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reports most airlines are resuming normal operations, however check with your airline to confirm.

<hr>

8:00 a.m. CDT Sunday: A thunderstorm associated with Barry is capable of producing a tornado east of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

<hr>

7:10 a.m. CDT Sunday: A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for Union County, Arkansas, and portions of north central Louisiana until 7 a.m. CDT Monday.

1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with isolated higher amounts, are still possible as the center of the remnants of Barry move northward across Louisiana and into Arkansas, according to NWS Shreveport, Louisiana.

<hr>

5:20 a.m. CDT Sunday: Tropical Storm Barry is moving farther inland over Louisiana. The main threat is now heavy rain and the potential for flooding from Louisiana to the Lower Mississippi Valley. Total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts are possible, according to the NWS New Orleans twitter page.

Power outages are staying steady around 150,000 affected customers in Louisiana, according to PowerOutage.us.

<hr>

3:55 a.m. CDT Sunday: Power outages have affected 150,000 customers in Louisiana, according to PowerOutage.us. This number has steadily increased in the past few hours.

In Adams County, Mississippi, emergency management reports numerous downed trees across the county. "Rain soaked soils will make it easier for trees to come down in some of the gusty winds occurring across [southwest] Mississippi and [northeast] Louisiana. Please use caution if you are traveling in that area this morning!" the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi, said on Twitter.

Some of Barry's heaviest rainfall is now streaming into southern Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico, leading to a growing concern of flash flooding.

<hr>

2:00 a.m. CDT Sunday: Barry remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 45 mph, according to the latest update released by the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving to the north-northwest at around 8 mph. A turn to the north is expected later Sunday.

The Tropical Storm Warning, Wind Advisory and Storm Surge Warnings for southeastern Louisiana and portions of Mississippi have been canceled as of 1 a.m. CDT.

The National Weather Service office in New Orleans cautioned residents to not let their guard down, however. "Flash flooding still remains a threat today. Stay alert for possible flooding under rain bands," they said on Twitter.

<hr>

12:30 a.m. CDT Sunday: The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued a discussion regarding the potential for the threat of tornadoes to continue overnight.

"A brief tornado cannot be ruled out over the next couple of hours across parts of southern and central Mississippi into far southeastern Louisiana. This threat still appears quite isolated," the discussion read.

There have been several tornado warnings in the past few hours across Mississippi, but no confirmed tornadoes have been reported at this time.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana Department of Transportation reports that restrictions remain in effect on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge.

<hr>

10 p.m. CDT Saturday: At 10 p.m. CDT Barry was moving north-northwest across Louisiana at a speed of 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The tropical storm was located about 90 miles northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana.

A Twitter post from the Flood Protection Authority shows crews opening a floodgate in Louisiana.

<hr>

9 p.m. CDT Saturday: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has released statistics regarding the offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of data from 11:30 a.m. CDT on Saturday, 42.3% of all personnel have been evacuated from the managed production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

The BSEE also estimates about 69.97% of the current oil production and 55.56% of the natural gas production has been shut in. This procedure involves closing sub-surface safety valves below the surface of the ocean floor to prevent the release of oil or gas.

<hr>

8 p.m. CDT Saturday: With Barry continuing to move farther inland and dumping buckets of rain on already inundated communities, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant told AccuWeather in an interview that the state will be seeking relief from federal agencies.

Barry has caught the state at a time when residents and farmers of the Mississippi Delta are trying to recover from months of previous flooding. From beach entertainers for to large casino resorts, Bryant said that many businesses across the state are suffering due to the pattern of rain and now the additional rain from Barry.

"Normally, every hotel would be packed, every restaurant would be packed, the beaches would be covered with people enjoying themselves, and now this storm has taken all of that away," Bryant said.

He noted that problems with blooming algae have also forced the state to close most of the beaches this summer.

"This has been a devastating tourist season for the Mississippi Gulf Coast," Bryant said. "Every business there has suffered, and it has been troubling, and [there is] almost nothing we can do just now about it."

Barry and the persistent rain have also dealt a blow to the environment. Bryant notes that all of the fresh water that has been interfused into the Mississippi Sound has been killing creatures from the oyster crop and shrimp to bottlenose dolphins.

"This has been a devastating event that has taken place since the Bonnet Carré Spillway has been opened, allowing fresh water to inundate the Gulf Coast," Bryant said.

Back in late February, the Bonnet Carré Spillway was partially opened to keep the Mississippi River from flooding New Orleans.

<hr>

7 p.m. CDT Saturday: After the levees in the Myrtle Groves and Pointe Celeste were overtopped, water began to encroach on Highway 23 in Louisiana around 6 p.m., CDT. The highway is the primary route of transportation through Plaquemines Parish.

City officials continue to warn people to not drive through floodwaters.

A flash flood warning will remain in effect for portions of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi, including New Orleans, until Sunday, 7 p.m. CDT.

Barry continues to move inland with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was located about 80 miles northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana around 7 p.m. CDT. The storm is trudging through the state at about 8 mph.

<hr>

4:26 p.m. CDT Saturday: At 4 p.m. CDT, Barry was moving inland with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was located about 20 miles west-southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana.

AccuWeather meteorologists say continued storm surge over coastal Louisiana will wind down as Barry pushes inland. Flooding near the coastline will decrease through the afternoon and evening.

The hurricane warning for the Louisiana coast has been changed to a tropical storm warning.

<hr>

2:48 p.m. CDT Saturday: Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove issued mandatory evacuation orders for all areas along Louisiana Highway 315 and Brady Road south or south of Falgout Canal due to water overtopping the Lower Dularge East Levee.

AccuWeather National Weather Reporter Jonathan Petramala is on the ground in Plaquemines Parish, where there has also been a report of water overtopping a levee.

Over 260 flights have been canceled Saturday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

<hr>

12:58 p.m Saturday: Following a brief stint as a Category 1 hurricane, Barry has weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall near Intracoastal City, Louisiana.

The storm currently is packing 70-mph winds, and despite weakening, will continue to produce life-threatening impacts across the central Gulf Coast.

<hr>

12 p.m. CDT Saturday: The number of customers without power in Louisiana is just shy of 100,000.

AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer reports tree and power line damage in Morgan City, Louisiana.

<hr>

11 a.m. CDT Saturday: A levee in Myrtle Grove, which is in lower Plaquemines Parish, has been overtopped, according to Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness.

Highway 23 is currently open, but the highway may take on water, which will likely impact travel between Phillips 66 Refinery to Venice. If Highway 23 floods, residents will not be able to utilize the River Levee to evacuate south of Phillips 66. Residents who did not evacuate may experience limited emergency services.

Residents are encouraged to come north of the flood wall, if they can do so safely. Otherwise emergency officials encourage you to shelter in place.

<hr>

10 a.m. CDT Saturday: Barry is now a Category 1 hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast. The main threats are flash flooding, damaging wind gusts, and a few possible tornadoes.

<hr>

9:40 a.m. CDT Saturday: There have been multiple water rescues this morning. The United States Coast Guard rescued at least a dozen people along Island Road in Terrebone Parish.

Four people and a cat were rescued by a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and transported from Island Road to Houma, Louisiana, according to WKRG.

<hr>

8:50 a.m. CDT Saturday: Barry is set to make landfall in the next few hours, close to Marsh Island, Louisiana. Enhanced storm surge is possible just east of center south of the Baldwin area.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office shared a video on twitter near the Lafourche levee showing Louisiana Highway 1 underwater.

<hr>

7:40 a.m. CDT Saturday: All inbound and outbound flights to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have been canceled as as of 7 a.m. CDT. Travelers are urged to check with their airlines for updates on the status of their flights.

<hr>

7:00 a.m. CDT Saturday: More than 63,000 customers are without power, which is more than double the amount of outages from Friday night.

A moderate to high risk of excessive rainfall exists across a large portion of the New Orleans region today and tonight. Rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches will be possible.

At 6 a.m. CDT, the curfew was lifted for the City of Thibodaux, Louisiana; however, officials are encouraging residents to stay off of the roads. Curfew continues for all other areas of Lafourche Parish until 8 a.m. CDT.

“Overnight deputies cleared several trees from the roads and there is much debris on the highways. Over 5,000 residents are without power this morning. We expect strong winds to continue today and torrential rainfall will begin to fall through Monday,” the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office said on Twitter.

<hr>

6:00 a.m. CDT Saturday: WWL-TV reports that the US Coast Guard is working to rescue 12 people from a remote island in the Terrebonne Parish area in Louisiana.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport announced on Twitter that all Delta flights have been canceled on Saturday due to Barry. Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines have also canceled all Saturday flights to and from the airport.

According to NWS Mobile, waves heights of more than 10 feet have been observed by a buoy located 44 nautical miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama.

<hr>

5:25 a.m. CDT Saturday: The rainbands of Barry are moving onshore in Louisiana. Landfall is expected to occur later today, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Power outages continue to rise across Louisiana, according to PowerOutage.us. More than 58,233 customers are without power, which is roughly 12,000 more than one hour ago.

A 3-foot storm surge was reported in the past hour by a National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network 14 miles southeast of Burns Point, Louisiana.

"As storm bands increase throughout the morning, we remind residents to report any street flooding to 911," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

Mayor Cantrell urges residents to stay safe, stay inside, do not move any barricades and stay ready.

<hr>

4:00 a.m. CDT Saturday: The outer reaches of Barry are being felt across southeastern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi and Alabama at this hour.

A special marine warning is in effect for the coastal waters from Pensacola, Florida, to Pascagoula, Mississippi. The NWS said strong thunderstorms moving onshore could produce waterspouts and wind gusts to 46 mph.

The National Hurricane Center stated that Tropical Storm Barry is moving west-northwest at 5 mph in their 4:00 a.m. CDT update. Barry is expected to strengthen to a low-end Category 1 hurricane just prior to landfall along the central Louisiana coastline later this morning.

<hr>

2:50 a.m. CDT Saturday: The number of customers without power is rising across Louisiana, according to PowerOutage.us. Over 46,000 customers are without power, which is up from 28,000 earlier Friday night.

Bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms are moving onshore across southeastern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi and Alabama. These bands can contain very heavy downpours, gusty winds and also the risk of waterspouts and tornadoes.

<hr>

1:20 a.m. CDT Saturday: As Barry's rainbands begin to move onshore, the risk of spin-up tornadoes is increasing. A tornado warning has been issued for southwestern St. Bernard Parish and northwestern Plaquemines Parish in southeastern Louisiana until 1:30 a.m. CDT.

<hr>

12:50 a.m. CDT Saturday: The National Weather Service office in New Orleans told residents to not let their guard down even though the worst impacts from Barry are slow to move onshore.

"We are sensing a great deal of impatience with the onset of impacts from Tropical Storm Barry," they said on Twitter. "Plenty of very heavy rainfall parked off the coast [is expected] to move through the area throughout the day Saturday into Sunday. Be patient and DO NOT drop your guard."

<hr>

11:20 p.m. CDT Friday: AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer reports that water is rising rapidly off Island Road in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, as Barry's storm surge begins to move in. Timmer estimates the water is 3-4 feet along part of the road.

"AccuWeather meteorologists expect a maximum storm surge of 3-6 feet mostly along and just to the right of the storm's path," Kottlowski said.

The greatest storm surge will impact most of the central and southeastern coastal areas of Louisiana.

<hr>

10 p.m. CDT Friday: Curfews will be going into effect now for Terrebonne Parish, the City of Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish and other communities. Please stay off the roads and take shelter for your safety and the safety of emergency personnel. In Louisiana alone there have been over 20,000 customers without power according to PowerOutage.US.

Barry continues to crawl at 3 mph for the Louisiana coastline as a tropical storm, hindered by dry air. When maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater are detected, the storm will be classified as a hurricane. But for now, the maximum sustained winds sit at 65 mph.

<hr>

8 p.m. CDT Friday: New Orleans is now under a shelter-in-place order and the Regional Transit Authority services are suspended in preparation for Tropical Storm Barry.

Curfews will be going into effect soon for Terrebonne Parish, the City of Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish and other communities at 10 p.m. CDT.

<hr>

7 p.m. CDT Friday: Southwest Airlines has joined the list of airlines that has canceled flights in and out of New Orleans for Saturday, July 13. Cancellations and delays at the airport could continue through the weekend and into the start of next week due to Barry. The complete list of travel advisories at the New Orleans airport can be found here.

The FAA has also issued a NOTAM for drone pilots across much of southern Louisiana and Mississippi through Sunday, July 14. "Avoid flying in the area unless conducting an active disaster response or recovery mission," the FAA said on their website.

<hr>

3:20 p.m. CDT Friday: Although the center of Barry and the storm’s heaviest rain is still over the Gulf of Mexico, some roads near the coast of Louisiana are already impassible due to flooding storm surge.

The City of New Orleans has called for voluntary evacuations for people living outside of areas protected by the levees. Those that plan on evacuating should do so in the next few hours. Once the heavy, flooding rain starts, it will be too late to evacuate.

The Rolling Stones have officially postponed this weekend’s concert in New Orleans' Mercedes-Benz Superdome from Sunday to Monday due to Barry. There is the potential for the date to get moved again due to the lingering effects of Barry.

<hr>

1 p.m. CDT Friday: Residents and visitors in New Orleans only have a few more hours to make their final preparations ahead of Barry's arrival. Officials have announced that everyone in the city needs to start sheltering in place by 8 p.m. CDT Friday.

Grocery stores in New Orleans are sold out of items such as food and bread as people flock to the stores to stock up ahead of Barry and the flooding that will linger in the wake of the storm.

Some flights scheduled at New Orleans Airport this weekend are already being canceled. Airlines are issuing travel advisories due to Barry. People planning to fly this weekend in and hour of the region should check with their airline before heading to the airport.

Report a Typo