At 10:00 AM CDT, Tropical Storm Barry formed with a a center located at 27.8N 88.7W or 405 miles SE of JSC, moving west at 5 MPH. Maximum sustained winds were 35 MPH.
TS Barry is forecast to turn west northwest tonight and a more northwesterly turn on Friday. On the forecast track Barry will be near central or southeastern Louisiana coast Friday night or Saturday.
Hurricane Hunter aircraft this morning located maximum winds of 35 to 40 mph this morning. There are two swirls located in the broader area of circulation. The northernmost seen in satellite imagery off the mouth of the Mississippi should weaken while the southernmost one near the bulk of clouds and thunderstorms is expected to be the developing storm core. Slow organization and intensification is expected today and tonight before a quicker intensification likely minimal hurricane strenght on Friday and Friday night. Although JSC is now out of the probably path cone forecast by NHC there remains a bit more uncertainty in the track forecast due to the early stages of development so JSC should continue to monitor progress of TS Barry in case a more westerly track change occurs.
Another JENS message will be sent later this afternoon.
Tropical Weather Info from National Hurricane Center: