Tropical Storm Barry aims for Florida; Barbara heads for Mexico

June 2, 2007

Florida - The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Barry has sustained winds of about 50 mph, and the storm was about 85 miles southwest of Tampa.

The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Barry has sustained winds of about 50 mph, and the storm was about 85 miles southwest of Tampa.

Barry, centered in the Gulf of Mexico about 85 miles southwest of Tampa, is already delivering heavy rain to parched northern Florida and southeast Georgia, helping douse wildfires that have burned for weeks.

With sustained winds near 50 mph, Barry is moving toward the north-northeast at a swift 20 mph pace, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. advisory. The latest tracking map from the NHC shows the storm making landfall near Tampa at about 2 p.m. Saturday and moving to just off the Georgia coast 12 hours later.

The advisory said three to six inches of rain will fall along the path, which should help in the fight against wildfires along the Georgia-Florida border that have charred several hundred-thousand acres since April. Up to 10 inches could accumulate in some areas, it said.

While Barry's punch is expected to be weak, the NHC warned that isolated tornadoes are possible over the Florida peninsula Saturday.

The 8 a.m. advisory from the NHC said a tropical storm warning remained in effect for Florida's west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Keaton Beach. A tropical storm watch remained in effect from north of Keaton Beach to St. Marks.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Barbara headed toward the southeastern coast of Mexico with 50 mph sustained winds. In the NHC's 11 p.m. advisory, the storm was about 215 miles southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico, moving east-northeast at 8 mph.