INTRACOASTAL CITY, La. (CNN and FOX NEWS) — Hurricane Barry unloaded powerful winds and heavy rains as it finally made landfall Saturday along the Louisiana coast.
Barry was classified as a Tropical Storm until 11 a.m. Saturday, when it was officially upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.
The hurricane officially made landfall just before 2 p.m. Saturday near Intracoastal City, La., and was immediately downgraded back to a tropical storm.
Intracoastal City is situated 165 miles due west of New Orleans.
The National Hurricane Center said its slow trek means a longer period of heavy rainfall and flooding that will last through next week, forecasters said.
Rain bands are moving onshore in Louisiana as Barry inches northwest at 5 mph, also bringing 70-mph sustained winds, a dangerous storm surge and possible tornadoes.
A hurricane warning is in effect along part of the Louisiana coast, while inland areas, including the lower Mississippi Valley, are under tropical storm warnings. Tropical-storm-force winds will extend up to 175 miles outward from the storm’s center, Louisiana, forecasters said.
More than 62,000 customers across Louisiana were without power on Saturday, utility providers said.
