Thousands remain without power with tropical depression Barry moving inland
Rob Schmitt reports from Mandeville, La.
After it was briefly upgraded to a weak Category 1 hurricane, Barry was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Lousiana Saturday.
The National Weather Service said the storm brought with it 70 mph winds while forecasters warned of dangerous storm surge and heavy winds to the region.
Earlier this week, the National Weather Service also warned flooding is a threat as New Orleans could get 10 to 15 inches of rain Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some isolated areas could see 20 inches. Storm surge watches and warnings are also in effect for various areas along the coast.
Barry is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Read on for a look at Barry's path and other information.
Where is Tropical Storm Barry now?
The National Hurricane Center said in a 1 p.m. update Saturday that Barry is located about 5 miles northeast of Intracoastal City, Lousiana. "Barry makes landfall near Intracoastal City, Lousiana and weakens to a tropical storm" the center noted, also warning that “dangerous storm surge, heavy rains and wind conditions [are] expected across the north-central Gulf Coast.”
As of that same time, Hurricane Barry had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
How did the state prepare?
On Wednesday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for all of Louisiana.
"This is going to be a Louisiana event with coastal flooding and widespread, heavy rainfall potentially impacting every part of the state,” Edwards said in a statement. “No one should take this storm lightly. As we know all too well in Louisiana, low intensity does not necessarily mean low impact.”
The governor also encouraged residents to "check [their] emergency supplies and get a game plan for [their] family and pets." He also urged residents to monitor local media for "weather developments and follow the directions of local officials."
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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city's water pumps are "working at optimal capacity" as Tropical Storm Barry moves toward the state's Gulf coast. That said, at a Thursday news conference, she added that flooding is a threat because slow-moving, heavy rains are expected from the storm.
“We cannot pump our way out of the water levels ... that are expected to hit the city of New Orleans,” she warned.
Additionally, mandatory evacuations were issued for parts of Louisiana on Thursday, specifically in Plaquemines Parish. As of Thursday morning, 8,000 to 10,000 local residents were under a mandatory evacuation order, spokeswoman Jade Duplessis said.
Fox News' Travis Fedschun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
