Tropical Storm Barry: Big Alabama Impact Expected

MOBILE, AL — What is currently referred to by the National Weather Service as "Potential Tropical Cyclone Two" is expected to become Tropical Storm Barry by Thursday night. And Barry has the potential to have a big impact on Alabama.

According to the NWS, the storm system was 125 miles south of the Mississippi coast as of Thursday morning, and is drifting to the west. A northward turn is likely on Friday, and the National Hurricane Center forecasts the system to come into the Louisiana coast as a minimal hurricane Saturday morning.

What does this mean for Alabama? Flash flood watches are in effect for Washington, Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, and areas west through south Mississippi and southeast Louisiana.

Rain amounts of 2-4 inches are likely from Dauphin Island to Gulf Shores, Pensacola Beach, Destin and Panama City Beach. For the Mississippi coast, 4-6 inches is expected, and some parts of southeast Louisiana could see more than 10 inches of rain because of the slow motion of the tropical system. Flooding is a real concern for New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Inland, meteorologist James Spann said, "Showers and storms become more numerous Friday and over the weekend as tropical moisture deepens, and Barry passes just to the west. Our state will be on the wet, east side of the system, so expect occasional tropical downpours on these three days. Highs drop into the upper 80s Friday and mid 80s Saturday, and some communities could hold in the 70s all day Sunday because of clouds and showers."

Spann added, "I would not be surprised if some places in Alabama see 3-4 inches of rain by Monday, especially on the western side of the state."

This story will be updated as the storm progresses.