The outer rain bands from Storm Barry are beginning to hit the Gulf Coast, as Louisiana braces for its first major hurricane of the 2019 season. Hurricane-ravaged New Orleans will have its new defences put to the test as Barry promises to be a slow-moving storm, churning across land and bringing devastating amounts of rain. This will be the first real test of flood defences put in place after Hurricane Katrina 14 years ago.
The state of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi are set to suffer the most damage from Barry.
The Mississippi River is at risk of bursting its banks as Barry promises up to 25 inches (60cm) of rain in parts and the river is forecast to crest 17.1 feet (5.2m) over the weekend.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Barry is expected to strengthen further throughout Saturday as it begins to rip through the Gulf Coast.
NOAA said the storm was churning at 5mph (7km/h) and moving west-northwest.
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It is currently located 55 miles (260km) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.
On the current track, the centre of Barry will make landfall along the south-central Louisiana coast later today, before churning slowly northward through the Mississippi Valley through Sunday night.
The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 65mph (100km/h), which will build to the hurricane levels of 74mph on Saturday.
While this will be just a category 1 hurricane, the real risk posed is that of prolonged rainfall, a threat created when a hurricane is particularly slow-moving.
Authorities in the region have warned residents that time is running out to safeguard themselves and their properties.
Hurricane centre Director Ken Graham said: “This is happening. Your preparedness window is shrinking.
“It’s powerful. It’s strengthening. And water is going to be a big issue.”
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement on Friday, which said: “We are preparing facilities and equipment to withstand storm damage along the projected storm path so we can quickly resume disaster relief operations after it passes.”
About 3,000 National Guard troops have been deployed, bringing helicopters and vehicles capable of moving in high water.
About 10,000 people have been evacuated in Louisiana, but those who haven’t have been advised to “shelter in place”.
There are 1.3 million people at risk from flooding in New Orleans, and the city’s floodgates have been closed.
More than 46,000 people have been reported without power across Louisiana this morning, which is expected to increase.