Some Louisiana coastal areas have clocked wind gusts near 50 miles per hour today as Tropical Storm Barry gets closer.
In New Orleans winds have been sustained near 25 miles per hour.
The NOAA automated station at the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River recently reported sustained winds of 55 mph and a wind gust of 66 mph at an elevation of 125 ft. An oil rig located southwest of the Mouth of the Mississippi River recently reported sustained winds of 76 mph and a wind gust of 87 mph at an elevation of 295 ft.
The National Hurricane Center says reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds over the Gulf are near 65 mph with higher gusts.
"Strengthening is forecast before landfall, and Barry is expected to be a hurricane when the center reaches the Louisiana coast," the Senior Hurricane Specialist Jack Beven said. "The center of Barry will approach the central or southeastern coast of Louisiana through tonight and then make landfall over the central Louisiana coast on Saturday."
Communities near the Gulf, Lake Pontchartrain and other bodies of water are already reporting storm surge starting to cause flooding.
Beven is concerned about the potential for more widespread flooding from Barry's heavy rains.
