Tropical Storm Barry has officially formed in the Gulf of Mexico about 95 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Barry is expected to remain a tropical storm right up until landfall on Saturday morning along the Louisiana coast. The center of most tracks puts landfall in south-central Louisiana, but National Weather Service forecaster Donovan Landreneau says the entire coastline needs to be prepared…
Cut 14 (11) “…New Orleans.”

There are concerns about the levees in New Orleans with the potential of a slow-moving hurricane hitting southeast Louisiana on Saturday. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says they are not expecting widespread overtopping, but they are working on increasing the height of certain portions of the system.
Cut 6 (10) “…over.
Three to five feet of storm surge is expected at the mouth of the Mississippi.

There’s a chance Barry will move across the heart of Acadiana. Jeff Palermo spoke with lead emergency preparedness manager in Lafayette…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Mandatory evacuations are underway in for low-lying areas of Jefferson and Plaquemines Parish in Southeast Louisiana. A voluntary evacuation has been called for areas south of Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow and for Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish. St. Bernard officials say they anticipate tropical storm-level winds as soon as tonight.