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Hurricane Barry closes in on Louisiana as residents lock down Storm Barry makes landfall and begins to batter Louisiana coast
(32 minutes later)
A storm approaching the Louisiana coast has strengthened into a category one hurricane, US officials say. Storm Barry has made landfall in Louisiana, where officials have warned of potentially life-threatening floods.
Hurricane Barry is nearing landfall with sustained wind speeds of 75mph (120km/h) with higher gusts. The storm reached hurricane-strength as it neared system, but has now weakened to a storm packing sustained wind speeds of 70mph (112km/h).
The system is crawling north-west at a speed of just 6 mph, dumping heavy rainfall as it tracks inland. The system is crawling north-west at a speed of just 6mph, dumping heavy rainfall as it tracks inland.
The storm is set to most heavily impact an area west of New Orleans and officials warn floods and storm surges could be life-threatening. The worst of the storm is expected to hit an area west of New Orleans, and affect the wider region.
Thousands have been evacuated from at-risk areas and others have been told to shelter in place. Thousands have been evacuated from areas most at risk of flooding and other residents have been told to shelter in place.
About 100,000 households are already without power.About 100,000 households are already without power.
All flights in and out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Saturday have been cancelled.All flights in and out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Saturday have been cancelled.
President Donald Trump declared a federal state of emergency in Louisiana on Thursday. President Donald Trump declared a federal state of emergency in Louisiana before the storm hit.
The Louisiana National Guard say 3,800 ground and air troops have been deployed to the state.
What is the latest?What is the latest?
In an update at 10:00 local time (15:00 GMT) the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) confirmed Storm Barry had strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic season. In its latest update at 13:00 local (18:00 GMT), the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) confirmed Storm Barry's winds had slightly weakened.
Local journalists shared images of flooding in some residential areas and roads, as the rain bands closed in. Before it made landfall near Intracoastal City, it was confirmed as the first hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic season.
As the storm's rain bands closed in, local journalists shared images of flooding in some residential areas.
At least one levee, in Plaquemines Parish in the state's tip, was already overtopped by water by midday on Saturday.At least one levee, in Plaquemines Parish in the state's tip, was already overtopped by water by midday on Saturday.
Officials have told residents there to immediately evacuate, if it safe to do so, or risk being cut off for several days.Officials have told residents there to immediately evacuate, if it safe to do so, or risk being cut off for several days.
Louisiana's most populous city, New Orleans, looks set to avoid a direct hit from the hurricane - with the worst expected further west near the city of Lafayette instead.Louisiana's most populous city, New Orleans, looks set to avoid a direct hit from the hurricane - with the worst expected further west near the city of Lafayette instead.
Heavy rain is expected throughout the state, with warnings that of up to 25 inches of rain could fall in places.Heavy rain is expected throughout the state, with warnings that of up to 25 inches of rain could fall in places.
Louisiana's governor, John Bel Edwards, said on Friday that he was confident the state was prepared for the storm. Louisiana's governor, John Bel Edwards, has urged residents not to become complacent.
"But that comes with a caveat. You never know what Mother Nature is going to serve until she has served it," he said at a news conference. "I want to caution everybody. This is just the beginning," he said at a Saturday news conference.
With recent flash-flooding and heavy rainfall, there was particular concern about the flooding risk in New Orleans. With recent flash-flooding and heavy rainfall, there was particular concern about the flooding risk to low-lying New Orleans.
Most of the city's flood defences, improved after more than 1,800 died in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, are built between 20-25ft (6-7.6m) high.Most of the city's flood defences, improved after more than 1,800 died in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, are built between 20-25ft (6-7.6m) high.
The National Weather Service (NWS) earlier warned the Mississippi River could crest at 19ft or 20ft during the storm, but on Friday revised their estimate down to 17.1ft. The National Weather Service (NWS) earlier warned the Mississippi River could crest at 19ft or 20ft during the storm, but on Friday revised their estimate down to 17ft.
No city-wide mandatory evacuation is in place, but locals were told to shelter in place and stock-up on essentials. No city-wide mandatory evacuation is in place, but locals were told to hunker down and stock-up on essentials.
The city's emergency preparedness campaign has urged residents to remain vigilant and stay patient.The city's emergency preparedness campaign has urged residents to remain vigilant and stay patient.
After hitting Louisiana, Hurricane Barry is expected to weaken as it moves inland. Hurricane Barry is expected to gradually weaken as it moves inland across the weekend.
Is climate change to blame?Is climate change to blame?
While there is no definitive link between climate change and Storm Barry, rising temperatures are increasingly a factor in making the impact of events like this more intense.While there is no definitive link between climate change and Storm Barry, rising temperatures are increasingly a factor in making the impact of events like this more intense.
As the air has warmed over recent decades it is now able to hold much more moisture, meaning tropical storms are pre-loaded with large amounts of rain.As the air has warmed over recent decades it is now able to hold much more moisture, meaning tropical storms are pre-loaded with large amounts of rain.
The warming world is also making these storms more sluggish. Over the past seven decades tropical events like Barry have slowed down, going 20-30% less quickly over land in North America.The warming world is also making these storms more sluggish. Over the past seven decades tropical events like Barry have slowed down, going 20-30% less quickly over land in North America.
This is what happened with Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when it weakened to a tropical storm and then stalled for days over the Houston area dumping enormous quantities of rainwater which cost lives and did huge damage.This is what happened with Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when it weakened to a tropical storm and then stalled for days over the Houston area dumping enormous quantities of rainwater which cost lives and did huge damage.
Sea levels have also increased as a result of global heating, so if winds are blowing towards shore, this makes flooding much more likely during high tides.Sea levels have also increased as a result of global heating, so if winds are blowing towards shore, this makes flooding much more likely during high tides.