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| Tropical Storm Barry: Flooded New Orleans braces for likely hurricane | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A slow-moving storm is forming into a likely hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, and is forecast to hit the already-flooded US city of New Orleans. | A slow-moving storm is forming into a likely hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, and is forecast to hit the already-flooded US city of New Orleans. |
| The storm, which is currently classified as a tropical storm, has already brought thunderstorms to the city, triggering flash floods. | |
| A state of emergency is in effect and residents in some low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate. | A state of emergency is in effect and residents in some low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate. |
| The river may come dangerously close to overtopping levees shielding the city. | The river may come dangerously close to overtopping levees shielding the city. |
| The Mississippi River may rise as high as 20ft (6m) above sea level, officials warn, potentially exceeding the 20-25ft levees protecting New Orleans. | The Mississippi River may rise as high as 20ft (6m) above sea level, officials warn, potentially exceeding the 20-25ft levees protecting New Orleans. |
| "We're confident the levees themselves are in good shape. The big focus is height," Ricky Boyett, a spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the fortifications, told the AP. | "We're confident the levees themselves are in good shape. The big focus is height," Ricky Boyett, a spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the fortifications, told the AP. |
| Flash flooding | Flash flooding |
| On Wednesday morning, the New Orleans metro area was hit by as much as eight inches of rain over a three hour period. | On Wednesday morning, the New Orleans metro area was hit by as much as eight inches of rain over a three hour period. |
| Swamped streets saw rubbish bins overturned and vehicles flooded. Some parts of the city saw streets turn into lakes as deep as four feet. Kayakers were seen paddling on roadways. | Swamped streets saw rubbish bins overturned and vehicles flooded. Some parts of the city saw streets turn into lakes as deep as four feet. Kayakers were seen paddling on roadways. |
| The National Hurricane Center said on Thursday morning that the storm was 95 miles south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum sustained windspeeds of 40mph (64 km/hr). | |
| The tropical storm has been given the name Barry by US weather forecasters. | |
| At winds of 74mph it will be declared a hurricane, as it is forecast to become before making landfall in the delta of the Mississippi River on Friday. | At winds of 74mph it will be declared a hurricane, as it is forecast to become before making landfall in the delta of the Mississippi River on Friday. |
| The storm is predicted to drop 10-15 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday along the Louisiana coast and parts of Texas. | The storm is predicted to drop 10-15 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday along the Louisiana coast and parts of Texas. |
| Residents have been warned to stock up on drinking water and non-perishable food, as well as other emergency supplies. | Residents have been warned to stock up on drinking water and non-perishable food, as well as other emergency supplies. |
| Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, has ordered residents to evacuate. Vermilion Parish, to the west of the city, has asked some people living in low-lying areas to consider moving to higher ground. | Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, has ordered residents to evacuate. Vermilion Parish, to the west of the city, has asked some people living in low-lying areas to consider moving to higher ground. |
| Storm surges are expected to see rivers and tides crest at levels far higher than average, officials warn. | |
| The primary danger is in the amount of water from surges and rainfall, according to emergency responders, rather than wind damage. | |
| Tropical Storm Barry is currently "moving very slowly to the west at 5mph" the National Weather Center warned in an advisory on Thursday. | |
| The National Hurricane Center warns that the storm may produce tornados along southern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi. | |
| Officials warn that even if the storm does not form into a hurricane, heavy rain could still create dangerous conditions lasting for days. | |
| "No one should take this storm lightly," said Governor John Bel Edwards as he declared a state of emergency. | |
| "As we know all too well in Louisiana, low intensity does not necessarily mean low impact." |