The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday night the system in the Gulf of Mexico is close to reaching tropical depression strength, and it's expected to become Tropical Storm Barry sometime on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds were at 30 miles per hour as the disturbance moved west-southwest at nearly 9 miles per hour.
The overall track of Potential Tropical Cyclone Two remained mainly the same as of the 10 p.m advisory, putting much of south Louisiana at risk for heavy rains over the weekend. "The system is expected to produce total additional rain accumulations of 10 to 15 inches near and inland of the central Gulf Coast through early next week, with isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 20 inches," the advisory said.
There were no changes to watches and warnings. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to Intracoastal City, a Hurricane Watch is in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron, and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River northward to the mouth of the Pearl River.