As expected, Tropical Storm Barry was named Thursday as of the 10 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Maximum sustained winds were at 40 miles per hour as the storm lazily moved westward at 5 miles per hour.
The current track continues to keep a heavy rain and wind threat for Baton Rouge and New Orleans and Barry is expected to reach category 1 strength before landfall
A tropical storm watch now includes the metropolitan New Orleans area.
Current watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Shell Beach
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Shell Beach to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* East of the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans
Explanation from the NHC:
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area generally within 48 hours.