Recon Found a Center...

The Hurricane Hunters from Keesler AFB did find a closed low-level circulation but it lacked the wind speeds to make it a Depression.  The new NHC track is exactly the same as their morning track despite most computer models bringing the center of landfall back to the east.  

This system should be a Tropical Depression later tonight and named Tropical Storm Barry on Thursday.  He then is predicted to become a Cat. 1 Hurricane on Friday making landfall during Saturday morning.   Hurricane Watches have been put up from the mouth of the River Westward.  Local governments have started their evacuation processes since many coastal locations have only one road out.  Here's what we should be watching for tonight and tomorrow.  See if the current center (28.1 N, 87.4 W) continues to drift WSW AND the forward speed stays 8 mph or higher.   From what I'm seeing on satellite and radar loops is the NHC's center location is farther to the east than what I'm seeing.  That would be good as the farther west this system gets before making a north turn is better for us.   I would love for this low to take the path that Alicia did in 1983.  That storm formed off the mouth of the River along a weak front that moves into the Gulf.  She then headed westward and became a strong hurricane crashing into Houston.   I don't wish bad on anyone, but that track was good for us.   If the worst case scenario happens and a Cat. 1 Hurricane moves close to us, our levees should provide necessary protection.  There is some concern that the Mississippi River will back up and rising to 20'.    Lots to watch for in the next 24 hours, but this will not be a Katrina type storm.  I'll update before I go to sleep tonight.